English
luminary
Luminary comes from Old French luminarie ‘lamp, lights, lighting’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500lūminārium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400luminarie‘lamp, lights, lighting’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lūminārī
- Englishearliest quotation 1667luminary
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500lūminārium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400luminarie‘lamp, lights, lighting’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lūminārī
- Englishearliest quotation 1667luminary
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book VII: “[…] then firſt adornd / With thir bright Luminaries…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’
light, low, los, link, lucy, ounce, lea, luna, translucent, lux, lynx, lucid, luce, illumination, lumen, illuminate, loach, lune, leucine, lumia, lum, 80 more
Today it means
noun One who is an inspiration to others; one who has achieved success in one's chosen field; a leading light.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewk- / luminary