illustris Latin · revision 30737

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=back-formation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *leuk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪlˈluːs.trɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ilˈlus.tris]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''illūstris''' (neuter illūstre, comparative illūstrior, superlative illūstrissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''inlūstris'', the usual spelling in manuscripts and inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+ Valerius Maximus has a masculine nominative ''illūster''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a back-formation from [[m|la|illūstrō|t=to light up]], as the OLD, the TLL and Wiktionary suggest;^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis & Short explain it as “lighted up”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The verb is formed from [[m|la|in-|t=in, on]] and the stem of [[m|la|lūstrō|t=to illuminate]], from the root of [[lūx]], which de Vaan traces to [[ine-pro|*leuk-|t=light]], cognate with [[grc|λευκός|tr=leukós|t=bright, white]] and [[sa|रोचते|tr=rócate|t=shines]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Rudens'': a storm “knocked all the tiles off the roof, made the house brighter (''inlūstriōrēs'') and put windows in”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Literally it is bright and shining, of stars (Cicero's Aratus) and of places full of light; then, figuratively, brilliant, of words and deeds.^(OLD 2012) Of speech and writing it means clear and lucid (Varro).^(OLD 2012) Its commonest Classical sense is illustrious, distinguished, famous, of persons (Varro: the most illustrious of the ancients were shepherds) and things (Cicero: so illustrious a province).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary also gives “highborn, noble” as a term of rank.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts [[lūculentus]], what can be seen and need not shun the light, with ''illūstris'', what makes itself seen and catches the eye; he groups it with [[clārus]] and [[nōbilis]] as words for fame.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it “glorious, full of light, illustrious, clear”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a house made brighter.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of clear words and illustrious men.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of shining stars and an illustrious province.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Bright, shining, [[m|en|lustrous]]; full of light.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(of speech)'' Clear, [[m|en|lucid]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|illustrious]], distinguished, famous.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Highborn, noble (as a rank).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perillūstris]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[illūstrō]]

+ * [[lūstrō]]

+ * [[lūx]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}