illumination
/ɪˌluːmɪˈneɪʃən/
noun
Origin
Latin
illuminare — to light up, to brighten
Overview
Meaning Now
- The act or state of being lit up; light, especially ambient light.
- The intellectual or spiritual enlightenment or insight.
- The artistic decoration of manuscripts or books with gold, silver, or brilliant colors.
Literal older meaning
the action of lighting up
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
illuminacioun
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term historically refers to the practice of illuminating medieval manuscripts where gold leaf or bright pigments were applied to pages to 'illuminate' the text, enhancing both the aesthetic and spiritual value of the work.
Evolution
- Latin
illuminare
“to light up”
From in- + lumen (light).
- Old French
enluminer
“to light, to decorate with bright colors”
- Middle English
illuminacioun
“a source of light or decoration of manuscripts”
Connections
Word parts
il-
prefix
in/into
lumin
root
light
-ation
suffix
process/state
Related across languages
French
lighting or illumination
Spanish
iluminación
lighting or illumination
Explore next
Related to illumination
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.