Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LU'MIN-A-RY, n. [L. luminare, from lumen, light. Lumen is the Saxon leoma, a ray, or from luceo, by contraction, for lucmen, lugmen.]

1. Any body that gives light, but chiefly one of the celestial orbs. The sun is the principal luminary in our system. The stars are inferior luminaries.
2. One that illustrates any subject, or enlightens mankind; as, Bacon and Newton were distinguished luminaries.