limn

UK: /lɪm/ US: (lim)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

limn  (lim), v.t. 

1. Fine Art to represent in drawing or painting.
2. to portray in words;
   describe.
3. [Obs.] to illuminate (manuscripts).

• Latin inlūmināre to embellish, literally, light up; see illuminate
• Middle French enluminer
• late Middle English lymne, variant of Middle English luminen to illuminate (manuscripts), aphetic variant of enlumine 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

limn / lɪm/ verb (transitive)

1. to represent in drawing or painting
2. to describe in words
3. an obsolete word for illuminate

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French enluminer to illumine (a manuscript) from Latin inlūmināre to brighten, from lūmen light

limner / ˈlɪmnə/ noun