Definition: limn

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

limn
     v 1: trace the shape of [syn: delineate, outline]
     2: make a portrait of: "showing society what it looked
        like..portraying..its ugliness and its beauties.." [syn: portray,
         depict]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Limn \Limn\ (l[i^]m), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limned (l[i^]md); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Limning (l[i^]m"n[i^]ng or l[i^]m"[i^]ng).]
   [OE. limnen, fr. luminen, for enluminen, F. enluminer to
   illuminate, to limn, LL. illuminare to paint. [root]122. See
   Illuminate, Luminous.]
   1. To draw or paint; especially, to represent in an artistic
      way with pencil or brush.

            Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of
            faces, and you shall find them all different. --Sir
                                                  T. Browne.

   2. To illumine, as books or parchments, with ornamental
      figures, letters, or borders.