Etymologically
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illustration

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 13:33. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌɪl.əˈstreɪ.ʃən/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English illustracioun, borrowed from Old French illustration (“apparition, appearance”) and directly Latin illūstrātiō (“vivid representation, an enlightening”),[2][3][4] from the past participle stem of illūstrō (“to light up, make clear, adorn”) (see illustrate), from in- and lūstrō (“to make bright, illuminate”),[2] from Proto-Indo-European *leuk- (“light, brightness”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Spiritual or intellectual illumination: about 1375 in the OED, which notes this as the earliest sense.[5][4] Etymonline gives a shining, about 1400.[2]

Semantic evolution

A manifestation is from the early 15th century.[2] Making something clear to the mind is from 1581,[5][2] and an example that makes something clear from 1585.[5] Making illustrious is from 1616,[5] and physical illumination from before 1631.[5] The pictorial elucidation of a text is from 1813, and an illustrative picture from 1816.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 1375 – spiritual illumination.[5]
  • 1581 – making clear.[5]
  • 1585 – an example.[5]
  • 1616 – making illustrious.[5]
  • 1816 – a picture in a book.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A picture or drawing used to explain or decorate a text.
  2. An example that explains or demonstrates something: an illustration of his ability.
  3. The act of illustrating or clarifying.
  4. (archaic) Illumination.

Word family

  • illustrational
  • overillustration
  • reillustration
  • illustrate
  • illustrious
  • lustre
  • luminous

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press