luminary
NounUS[loo-muh-ner-ee]/ˈluməˌnɛri/4 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)luminaries
- a celebrity who is an inspiration to others“he was host to a large gathering of luminaries”Synonyms: leading lightguiding lightnotablenotabilityType of celebrity, famous person
Word of the day · Oct 19About this word
notoriousadjective
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Lu′mi·na·ry noun; pl. Luminaries (#),
Origin: 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.” John Skelton
Where the great luminary... Dispenses light from far.— John Milton
2. One who illustrates any subject, or enlightens mankind; as, Newton was a distinguished luminary.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54
The Devil's Dictionary
LUMINARY, n. One who throws light upon a subject; as an editor by not writing about it.