Middle English Dictionary Entry
illūminen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | illūminen v. Also ilumine, illumenen. |
| Etymology | OF illuminer & L illūmināre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To light up (a place); (b) to light (a lamp); (c) to shine with light.
Associated quotations
a
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)737 : A ful greth lyht Illumyned sodeynly that derk presoun.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)279 : That ye the heuyn crystallyne illumyne and puryfye Off yowre infynyte goodenes!
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)302 : The firmament, that was put in more clerenesse, Illumyneth the world by concepcion of goddes sone.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.111 : Heuenly fyre..dothe illumyne [L illuminat] the lampes there of on the vigile of Pasche or Ester.
c
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)2 : Whan that phebus beemes schynyng as golde Gan to ylumyne over every nacyoun, My harte dyd reioysse the hevynnes to byholde.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)20 : The kiddes ffloke..Es lykennede to thyn here for pure brightenes, Illumeneth brigthere þan þe soneschyngynge.
2.
(a) To enlighten (sb., the heart, soul, etc.) spiritually; (b) to lend luster to (sth.), make illustrious.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.6.4 : Hem that oonys ben illumyned [L sunt illuminati] han tastid also heuenly ȝifte, and ben maad parceners of the Hooly Gost.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14b/a : He þat beþ first I-purged, beþ þeraftir illumyned and bischine, and þanne I-maad parfite.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)263/15 : And he þat haath grace haþ þe iȝe of intellecte yllumyned in knowynge me.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.11/18 : He schoone bright, beholdyng..thynges to cumme..with the yis of his soule by the holy goste, for he was Illumyned.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)57 : Thei haue grete likynge in the siȝt of hym, not only goostly in soule of his godhede as illumyned and tauȝt of hym, but also in his bodily siȝt with oute forth.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)173/6 : Hir thowt sche saw owr Lord deyin & sum-tyme owr Lady, as owr God wolde illumyn hir gostly syth of vndirstondyng.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)15/18 : When the resone..es illumenede with grace for to behalde Godde and gastely thynges.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)223 : Þou hast vouchid saaf of þyn infinite mercy and pitee, loue and desijr to illumyne and enform vs..bi liȝt of natural resoun in knowing of vs silf in oure soule side and of þee.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)95/9 : Til hym þou ert turned, when his grace illumyns þi hert.
- a1450 O lewde book (Tan 346)24 : Of al goode she is þe best lyvyng..Illumyned rote of beaute and goodnes.
- c1475(a1400) Boasting & P.(Rwl C.285)123 : We sal..se hym þat es vnseable..be þe vnderstandenge of þe saule illumyned thurgh grace.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)474/84 : Thow verrey lyght, refulgent and schynynge, Owr wyttes all and all owr inward mynd, Illumyne, lorde.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)2/6 : These are þe wordes of crist, in þe whiche we are amonysshed to folowe his lyf and his maners, yf we wol be verily illumyned & be delyuered fro al maner blyndenes of herte.
b
- a1456-a1500 ?Lydg.7 Counsels (Förster)24 : Discrecioun..Illumineþe with light of hye noblesse Crownis of kynges.