This word developed in the sense of “to illuminate a manuscript” in Middle English, from the French word “luminer” and the Latin word “luminare” — both of which mean “illuminate” or “to shine.” Illuminated manuscripts are handwritten books that include text supplemented with intricate borders and shimmering, richly colored illustrations. Before the printing press was developed, monks and other scholars would carefully limn pages with decorative flourishes that either complemented or explained the text they surrounded.