LUMINARY

luminary, leading light, guiding light, notable, notability

(noun) a celebrity who is an inspiration to others; “he was host to a large gathering of luminaries”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

luminary (plural luminaries)

One who is an inspiration to others; one who has achieved success in their chosen field; a leading light.

(archaic) A body that gives light; especially, one of the heavenly bodies.

(archaic) An artificial light; an illumination.

Synonyms

• (one who is an inspiration to others): guiding light

Source: Wiktionary


Lu"mi*na*ry, n.; pl. Luminaries, Etym: [F. luminaire, L. luminare a light or lamp, which was lighted in the churches, a luminary, fr. lumen, luminis, light, fr. lucere to be light, to shine, lux, lucis, light. See Light.]

1. Any body that gives light, especially one of the heavenly bodies. " Radiant luminary." Skelton. Where the great luminary . . . Dispenses light from far. Milton.

2. One who illustrates any subject, or enlightens mankind; as, Newton was a distinguished luminary.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

15 March 2025

TRUNCATION

(noun) the replacement of an edge or solid angle (as in cutting a gemstone) by a plane (especially by a plane that is equally inclined to the adjacent faces)


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Coffee Trivia

An article published in Harvard Men’s Health Watch in 2012 shows heavy coffee drinkers live longer. The researchers examined data from 400,000 people and found out that men who drank six or more coffee cups per day had a 10% lower death rate.

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