illustration English · revision 14952

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=ine-pro *leuk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌɪl.əˈstreɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|illustracioun]], [[bor|fro|illustration|t=apparition, appearance]] and directly [[la|illūstrātiō|t=vivid representation, an enlightening]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from the past participle stem of [[m|la|illūstrō|t=to light up, make clear, adorn]] (see [[illustrate]]), from [[m|la|in-]] and [[m|la|lūstrō|t=to make bright, illuminate]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*leuk-|t=light, brightness]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Spiritual or intellectual illumination: about 1375 in the OED, which notes this as the earliest sense.^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998) Etymonline gives a shining, about 1400.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A manifestation is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) Making something clear to the mind is from 1581,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and an example that makes something clear from 1585.^(OED 1989) Making illustrious is from 1616,^(OED 1989) and physical illumination from before 1631.^(OED 1989) The pictorial elucidation of a text is from 1813, and an illustrative picture from 1816.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – spiritual illumination.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1581 – making clear.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1585 – an example.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1616 – making illustrious.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1816 – a picture in a book.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A picture or drawing used to explain or decorate a text.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An example that explains or demonstrates something: ''an illustration of his ability''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of illustrating or clarifying.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Illumination.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[illustrational]]

+ * [[overillustration]]

+ * [[reillustration]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[illustrate]]

+ * [[illustrious]]

+ * [[lustre]]

+ * [[luminous]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}