transitive verb illuminated, illuminating
- to give light to; light up
- to brighten; animate
- to make clear; explain; elucidate
- to inform; instruct; enlighten
- to make illustrious, glorious, or famous
- to decorate with lights
- to decorate (an initial letter or word) with designs, tracings, etc. of gold, silver, or bright colors
- to decorate (a manuscript, page border, etc.) with such initial letters, miniature pictures, etc.
Origin:
< L illuminatus, pp. of illuminare, to light up < in-, in + luminare, to light < lumen (gen. luminis), a light < IE *leuksmen < base *leuk-: see illustrate
noun
Archaic a person who has or claims to have special knowledge