to limn
1
9.9
- verb
- /lɪm/
- Archaic
:
delinear
- The passage climbed steeply; light faintly limned the edge of the wall where it curved up ahead.
- limned by light
- clearly limned
- limned in red
Examples
-
Indeed, he drew most of his figures in that way, endowing them with elegantly limned chin, cheek, and coiffure.
Academic text (1998) -
Refractions of the streetlights and a neon sign across the avenue limned the room.
Fiction book (1999) -
The last glow of daylight still limned the hills.
Fiction book (1990) -
The dragon, looming against the night, was a shadow limned by stars.
Fiction book (1993) -
Perhaps the world is arbitrary, and Luke Skywalker is only a figure limned in plastic.
Blog text (24) -
The station shimmers in pre-dawn moonlight, and the moving clouds limn the sky.
Fiction book (1994) -
After a while, the Creature lowers his hand and sees that the mountains are limned by the imminent sun.
Fiction book (1994) -
"Mary stared at Rachel but couldn't see her face, only the shape of her body limned by the firelight against the darkness."
Fiction book (1990) -
Her sleek and delicate profile was limned by her lustrous flaxen hair, which appeared to glow in the half-light.
Fiction book (2001) -
The author beautifully limns the struggles of his characters in vivid detail.
Synonyms
182
3.9
To describe a person or thing in words
176
3.5
To show something in a picture or in words
65
3.2
To draw the outer edge of something
58
3.7
To describe someone or something in detail so the reader can imagine them
2
7.0
To draw the shape or edge of something clearly
Said or written with many clear details
Shown or described correctly and clearly
Shown in a picture or painting
Shown in a picture or drawing
Antonyms
How Detailed
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word limn comes from very old words for painting and decorating books and is tied to the same idea as illuminate ('to light up' or 'decorate') used for bright pictures in old books. So to limn something is to 'paint' it or to 'describe' it in clear, vivid detail.