luminaries

Variant of luminary

noun pl. luminaries

  1. a body that gives off light, such as the sun or moon
    1. a person who sheds light on some subject or enlightens mankind; famous intellectual
    2. any famous or well-known person

Origin: OFr luminarie < LL(Ec) luminarium < L luminare: see illuminate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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