illumine

[ ih-loo-min ]

verb (used with or without object)

, il·lu·mined, il·lu·min·ing.

1. to illuminate.

illumine

/ ɪˈluːmɪn /

verb

1. a literary word for illuminate

Derived Forms

• ilˈluminable, adjective

Other Words From

• il·lumi·na·ble adjective
• self-il·lumined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illumine¹

1300–50; Middle English illuminen < Latin illūmināre to light up, equivalent to il- il- ¹ + lūmin- (stem of lūmen ) light + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of illumine¹

C14: from Latin illūmināre to make light; see illuminate

Example Sentences

“She is the one of course that I am trying to get. … To mark her off, to describe, to illumine, to celebrate, to get rid of her.”

From Los Angeles Times

There was a din of crickets outside, and the pauseless roar of the river, and the stately world was illumined with pearly moonlight; but inside the log it was dark and hushed, like a crypt.

From Literature

The fog of war obscures even the most illumined conscience.

From Seattle Times

Rather, my time with Jackson illumined a generative confusion to how she understood abstraction in art and life.

From Los Angeles Times

Encouraging “trust among individuals, peoples and nations,” Francis said the joyful expression of Easter “illumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.”

From Washington Times