Etymograph

English

illustration

Illustration comes from Latin illūstrātiō ‘the action of lighting up, brightening’, from illūstrō ‘to illustrate’, and ultimately from Old Latin *loustrom.

  1. Old Latinc. 700–75 BCE*loustromreconstructedearlier origin unknown
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElūstrum‘a purificatory sacrifice’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElūstrō‘to purify via sacrifice’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEillūstrō‘to illustrate’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEillūstrātiō‘the action of lighting up, brightening’
  6. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600illustration
  7. Englishearliest quotation 2012same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Latinc. 700–75 BCE*loustromreconstructedearlier origin unknown
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElūstrum‘a purificatory sacrifice’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElūstrō‘to purify via sacrifice’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEillūstrō‘to illustrate’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEillūstrātiō‘the action of lighting up, brightening’
  6. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600illustration
  7. Englishearliest quotation 2012same form

Earliest quotation: 2012, Phil McNulty, England 1-0 Ukraine: “England will regard it as a measure of justice…”

Equivalent to illustrate + -ion

Linked words

through Latin lūstrum ‘a purificatory sacrifice’

lustre, 5 more

through Latin lūstrō ‘to purify via sacrifice’

luster, 4 more

through Latin illūstrō ‘to illustrate’

illustrious

Today it means

noun The act of illustrating; the act of making clear and distinct.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Old Latin *loustrom / illustration

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