Lumière
/ly.mjɛʁ/noun
The French word for light, illumination, or brightness.
Did you know?The Latin root behind lumière also gave English words associated with illumination, including illuminate and the “illuminated” manuscripts once treated as vessels of sacred knowledge.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leuk-
“To shine or be bright”
Classical Latin
Latin
lūx
“Light”
Classical Latin
Latin
lūmen, lūminis
“Light, brightness, or a source of illumination”
Late Latin
Latin
lūmināria
“Lights or sources of light”
12th–13th Century
Old French
lumiere
“Light or brightness”
Modern French
French
lumière
“Light, illumination, or figurative enlightenment”