Lū'mi-na-ry, n.
n. [Fr. luminaire, Pr. luminaria, luminaria, It. luminaria, luminara, luminare, Sp. luminaria, luminar, from Lat. luminar, lumināris, a light or lamp, which was lighted in the churches in honor of the martyrs, from lumen, luminis, light, contracted from lucimen, from lucere, to be light, to shine, lux, lucis, light.]
Sense 1. Any body that gives light, especially one of the heavenly bodies.
Where the great luminary Dispenses light from far. Milton.
Sense 2. One that illustrates any subject, or enlightens mankind; as, Bacon and Newton were distinguished luminaries.