verb

limn

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Limn (verb) means (literary) To draw or paint a picture of something.

verb

(literary) To draw or paint a picture of something.

"Still, though their terminology changed and their analysis developed, the model is limned fairly clearly as early as 1845–46, in the co-written The German Ideology." — China Miéville (2022)

"As he looked up at the rim of the hole, faintly limned in the moonlight, he mused that this searching feeling of his was perhaps jealousy." — Kōbō Abe pseudonym; Kimifusa Abe (1964)

(historical) To decorate a manuscript with gold or other bright colours.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

From Middle English limnen, limyne, lymm, lymn, lymne (“to illuminate (a manuscript)”), a variant of luminen (“to illuminate (a manuscript)”), short form of enluminen (“to shed light on, illuminate; to enlighten; to make bright or clear; to give colour to; to illuminate (a manuscript); to depict, describe; to adorn or embellish with figures of speech or poetry; to make famous, glorious, or illustrious”), from Old French enluminer (“to brighten, light up; to give colour to; to illuminate (a manuscript)”), from Latin illūminō (“to brighten, light up; to adorn; to make conspicuous”), from il- (a variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’)) + lūminō (“to brighten, illuminate; to reveal”) (from lūmen (“light; (poetic) brightness”) (from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright; to shine; to see”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)).

Synonyms

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depict portray delineate outline

Related words

show line form plan present picture draw profile

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of limn?

"limn" (verb) means (literary) To draw or paint a picture of something.

What is another word for limn?

Other words for "limn" include depict, portray, delineate, outline.

What are the different meanings of limn?

"limn" has 2 main meanings: 1. (literary) To draw or paint a picture of something; 2. (historical) To decorate a manuscript with gold or other bright colours.

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show line form plan present picture draw profile