WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Lu"mi*nous
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [L. luminosus, fr. lumen light: cf. F. lumineux. See Luminary, Illuminate.]
Definition : 1. Shining; emitting or reflecting light; brilliant; bright; as, the is a luminous body; a luminous color. Fire burneth wood, making it . . . luminous. Bacon. The mountains lift . . . their lofty and luminous heads. Longfellow.

2. Illuminated; full of light; bright; as, many candles made the room luminous. Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the darkness. Longfellow.

3. Enlightened; intelligent; also, clear; intelligible; as, a luminous mind. " Luminous eloquence." Macaulay. " A luminous statement." Brougham. Luminous paint, a paint made up with some phosphorescent substance, as sulphide of calcium, which after exposure to a strong light is luminous in the dark for a time.

Syn. -- Lucid; clear; shining; perspicuous. -- Lu"mi*nous*ly, adv. -- Lu"mi*nous*ness, n.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913