Hist. [med.L. lūminātor (f. lūmināre: see LUMINATE v.); the word occurs as the designation of an official who kept the accounts of expenditure for the lighting and ‘fabric’ of a church. Cf. OF. luminier of the same meaning (in Auvergne, a churchwarden). See Du Cange s.vv. Luminator, Luminaria.] In St. Andrews University, a student (one in each class) who was privileged to attend the professor’s lectures without payment, and to receive certain dues from the other students, in return for services rendered by him.
The Librarian of the University, Mr. J. Maitland Anderson, informs us that the first student whom he has found described in the records as ‘luminator’ entered the University in 1697; it is, however, probable that the title goes back to mediæval times. It is supposed that the ‘luminator’ originally provided lights and fires to the classes; but there is no contemporary evidence of this. Between 1800 and 1827 his duties seem to have been those of a clerk (cf. quot. a. 1808). The office was abolished about 1830.
It is commonly stated that the University seal contains a representation of a ‘luminator’ holding a candle while a professor is lecturing. But whether the object is a candle or something else (? a mace), and whether the figure holding it is meant for the ‘luminator,’ seems to be quite uncertain.
Called illuminator in Lyon’s St. Andrews (1838), 171.
a. 1808. Bye-laws United College (MS.), clause added by Prof. Adamson, The Luminator of each class to give in to the Hebdomadar each Monday a list of absents [from church] on the preceding Sunday.
1827. Evidence Univ. Commission (1837), III. 292. Each class has a Luminator, who originally furnished lights and fires to the classes for a certain remuneration from the students…. He is still privileged to attend the class of which he is Luminator, without payment of a fee to the Professor; and … he continues to receive … 2s. 6d. from each Secondar of the class, and 1s. 6d. from each Ternar, except [etc.].
