lucida

[ loo-si-duh ]

noun

, Astronomy.

, plural lu·ci·dae [loo, -si-dee].

1. the brightest star in a constellation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lucida¹

First recorded in 1720–30; from New Latin, special use of Latin lūcida (stella) “bright (star),” feminine of lūcidus “bright, shining, lucid”; low ³

Example Sentences

Some think he employed a camera lucida’s lens to render sitters as accurately as possible, which makes two details surprising.

From Los Angeles Times

Unprompted, she tells me she’s been meaning to read “Camera Lucida,” a book on photography by the French writer Roland Barthes that I mentioned to her in passing.

From New York Times

At some point in the past year, I bought a used copy of “Camera Lucida.”

From New York Times

Reading back through “Camera Lucida” for this essay, I was not always sure who made which mark, which of us left which note.

From New York Times

“Lucida” is from his first album billed as Thomas Bartlett, and it’s utterly unadorned.

From New York Times