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lu·mi·nar·i·a

(l′mə-nârē-ə)

1. A votive candle set into a small, decorative paper bag weighted with sand and placed in a row with others along a walkway, driveway, or rooftop as a holiday decoration. Also called regionally farolito.

2. New Mexico A bonfire built in front of each house in a pueblo to celebrate Christmas Eve.

[Spanish, from Latin lūmināria, pl. of lūmināre, lamp; see LUMINARY.]

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luminaria

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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