Definition of LUMINARY

luminary

Meanings

Plural: luminaries

Noun

  • a celebrity who is an inspiration to others
  • One who is an inspiration to others; one who has achieved success in one's chosen field; a leading light.
  • A body that gives light; especially, one of the heavenly bodies.
  • An artificial light; an illumination.

Origin / Etymology

From Late Middle English lūminārī, lūminārīe (“lamp; source of spiritual light, example of holiness; glory”), borrowed from Old French luminarie (“lamp, lights, lighting; candles; brightness, illumination”), variant of luminaire (“light fixture”) (modern French luminaire), from Medieval Latin lūminārium, from lūmināre (“that which gives light; light; lamp; body giving light, especially a heavenly body”), from lūmen (“light; brightness”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright; to shine”)) + -āris (suffix forming adjectives indicating a relationship or a pertaining to). Doublet of luminaire.

Synonyms

guiding light, leading light, notability, notable

Scrabble Score: 13

luminary is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
luminary is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
luminary is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

luminary is a valid Words With Friends word