Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - illuminate

 I. adjective  Date: 15th century  1. archaic brightened with light  2. archaic intellectually or spiritually enlightened  II. transitive verb  (-nated; -nating)  Etymology: Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light — more at luminary  Date: 15th century  1.  a. to enlighten spiritually or intellectually  b.  (1) to supply or brighten with light  (2) to make luminous or shining  c. archaic to set alight  d. to subject to radiation  2.  a. to make clear ; elucidate  b. to bring to the fore ; highlight a crisis can ~ how interdependent we all are  3. to make illustrious or resplendent  4. to decorate (as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures  • illuminatingly adverb  • illuminator noun  III. noun  Date: 1600 archaic one having or claiming unusual enlightenment