Wordsmith.Org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Jan 11, 2011
This week's theme
Short words

This week's words
maw
limn
kip
gest
dun

AWAD Premium
An ad-free, paid edition of AWAD. Subscribe yourself or send a gift subscription.
Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

limn

PRONUNCIATION:
(lim)

MEANING:
verb tr.:
1. To portray in words.
2. To draw or paint, especially in outline.

ETYMOLOGY:
Via French, from Latin luminare (to illuminate), from lumen (light). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leuk- (light), which is also the source of words such as lunar, lunatic, light, lightning, lucid, illuminate, illustrate, translucent, lux, lynx, and lucubrate. Earliest documented use: 1440.

USAGE:
"'And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern,' Mr. Kissinger insists. 'Maybe a humanitarian concern.' More than limning Nixon's place in history, the line reveals Mr. Kissinger's genius for playing the lackey to power."
Editorial: 400 Hours and Counting; The New York Times; Dec 18, 2010.

See more usage examples of limn in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last. -Francois de La Rochefoucauld, moralist (1613-1680)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith