Added 9 October 2026
illumine
/ɪˈl(j)uːmɪn/ verb
Latin root: illūmināre Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about illumine at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Synonym of illuminate. To shine light on (something). To cause (something) to glow or shine with light. To enlighten (someone) spiritually; to induce (someone) to adopt, or believe in the truth of, a religion, religious tenet, etc. To cause (the eyes) to see. To cause (a person or their face) to show enlightenment, happiness, etc. To enlighten (someone) intellectually. To decorate (a page of a manuscript book) with ornamental designs. To become bright; to light up. To enlighten intellectually. Of a person or their face: to show enlightenment, happiness, etc.
- To shine light on (something). To cause (something) to glow or shine with light. To enlighten (someone) spiritually; to induce (someone) to adopt, or believe in the truth of, a religion, religious tenet, etc. To cause (the eyes) to see. To cause (a person or their face) to show enlightenment, happiness, etc. To enlighten (someone) intellectually. To decorate (a page of a manuscript book) with ornamental designs.
- To shine light on (something).
Origin
From Middle English illuminen (“to light, light up; to shine; (figuratively) to enlighten spiritually; to make illustrious”) [and other forms], from Old French illuminer (“to light up, illuminate; (figuratively) to enlighten”) (modern French illuminer), from Latin illūmināre, the present active infinitive of illūminō (“to light up, illuminate; to brighten; to adorn; to make conspicuous”), from il- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘in, within’; intensifying prefix)) + lūminō (“to illuminate; to brighten; (figuratively) to reveal”) (from lūmen (“light; light source; (poetic) brightness; daylight”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“to shine; to see; bright”)) + -ō (suffix forming reg.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)