Word of the Day!

luminary, n.

lu·​mi·​nary ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē

1: a person of prominence or brilliant achievement

a literary luminary
a luminary in the medical profession

2: a body that gives light

especially : one of the celestial bodies

skywatchers … will see one more bright luminary below Orion and Canis Major —
Martin Ratcliffe


Did you know?

As, dare we say, leading lights of the dictionary game, we're here to brighten your day with the 411 on luminary. This word has been casting its glow in English since the 15th century, and it traces back to the Latin word lumen, meaning "light." Other lumen descendants in English include illuminate ("to light up"), luminous ("emitting light"), phillumenist ("one who collects matchbooks or matchbox labels"), and bioluminescence ("the emission of light from living organisms").

Recent Examples on the Web

On Thursday, May 23, luminaries from the world of politics, cultures and the arts arrived for an official State Dinner at the residence of President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

— Lawrence Yee, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024

Film industry luminaries have paid fulsome homage to Indian DoP Santosh Sivan, this year’s recipient of the annual Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography award conferred during the Cannes Film Festival.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 May 2024

One of America’s top-tier classical pianists, Jeremy Denk has toured the world for almost three decades as a soloist and as a collaborator with violinist Joshua Bell and other luminaries.

— Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024

Alongside former general manager Dayton Moore and manager Ned Yost once again were such luminaries as Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and current team captain Salvador Perez — the only one from that august group who’s still playing in 2024

. — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2024


Etymology

Middle English luminarye, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French luminaire light, luminary, from Late Latin luminaria, plural of luminare lamp, heavenly body, from Latin, window, from lumin-, lumen light; akin to Latin lucēre to shine

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1


(Source: merriam-webster.com)