Il`lus*tra"tion (?), n. [L. illustratio: cf. F. illustration.] 1. The act of illustrating; the act of making clear and distinct; education; also, the state of being illustrated, or of being made clear and distinct.
2. That which illustrates; a comparison or example intended to make clear or apprehensible, or to remove obscurity.
3. A picture designed to decorate a volume or elucidate a literary work.
Il*lus"tra*tive (?), a. 1. Tending or designed to illustrate, exemplify, or elucidate.
2. Making illustrious. [Obs.]
Il*lus"tra*tive*ly, adv. By way of illustration or elucidation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Il*lus"tra*tor (?), n. [L.] One who illustrates.
Il*lus"tra*to*ry (?), a. Serving to illustrate.
Il*lus"tri*ous (?), a. [L. illustris, prob. for illuxtris; fr. il- in + the root of lucidus bright: cf. F. illustre. See Lucid.] 1. Possessing luster or brightness; brilliant; luminous; splendid.
Quench the light; thine eyes are guides illustrious.
Beau. & Fl.
2. Characterized by greatness, nobleness, etc.; eminent; conspicuous; distinguished.
Illustrious earls, renowened everywhere.
Drayton.
3. Conferring luster or honor; renowned; as, illustrious deeds or titles.
Syn. -- Distinguished; famous; remarkable; brilliant; conspicuous; noted; celebrated; signal; renowened; eminent; exalted; noble; glorious. See Distinguished, Famous.
Il*lus"tri*ous*ly, adv. In a illustrious manner; conspicuously; eminently; famously. Milton.
Il*lus"tri*ous*ness, n. The state or quality of being eminent; greatness; grandeur; glory; fame.
Il*lus"trous (?), a. [Pref. il- not + lustrous.] Without luster. [Obs. & R.]
Il`lu*ta"tion (?), n. [Pref. il- in + L. lutum mud: cf. F. illutation.] The act or operation of smearing the body with mud, especially with the sediment from mineral springs; a mud bath.
Il`lux*u"ri*ous (?), a. Not luxurious. [R.] Orrery.
Ill`-will" (?). See under Ill, a.
Ill`-wish"er (?), n. One who wishes ill to another; an enemy.
Il"ly (?), adv. [A word not fully approved, but sometimes used for the adverb ill.]
Il"men*ite (?), n. [So called from Ilmen, a branch of the Ural Mountains.] (Min.) Titanic iron. See Menaccanite.
Il*me"ni*um (?), n. [NL. See Ilmenite.] (Chem.) A supposed element claimed to have been discovered by R.Harmann.
Il"va*ite (?), n. [From L. Ilva, the island now called Elba.] (Min.) A silicate of iron and lime occurring in black prismatic crystals and columnar masses.
I'm (?). A contraction of I am.
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