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limn was our Word of the Day on 01/15/2016. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of limn in a Sentence
he limned the scene in the courtroom so perfectly I could practically see it
Recent Examples of limn from the Web
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Fun Home’ tour Based on cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel of the same name, this musical (book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, music by Jeanine Tesori) limns Bechdel’s troubled relationship with her father.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'limn'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Allow us to shed some light on the history of "limn," a word with lustrous origins. "Limn" traces to the Middle French verb enluminer and ultimately to the Latin illuminare, which means "to illuminate." Its use as an English verb dates from the days of Middle English; at first, "limn" referred to the action of illuminating (that is, decorating) medieval manuscripts with gold, silver, or brilliant colors. William Shakespeare extended the term to painting in his poem Venus and Adonis: "Look when a painter would surpass the life / In limning out a well-proportioned steed . . . ."
Origin and Etymology of limn
Middle English limnen to illuminate (a manuscript), probably back-formation from lymnour illuminator, alteration of lumenur, from Anglo-French aluminer, enluminer to illuminate, ultimately from Latin illuminare
Learn More about limn
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See words that rhyme with limn Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for limn Britannica English: Translation of limn for Arabic speakers
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