illuminate

Where does the word "illuminate" come from? It comes from Latin illuminare, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Illuminate’s story begins in Latin: illuminare meant “to light up.” To light up, from in- (in) and lumen (light). It reached English by 1400s as illuminate. Settled as the English word for lighting something up, or making it clear. Today, illuminate means to light something up, or to make a subject clearer through explanation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient illuminare "to light up", to light up, from in- (in) and lumen (light).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s illuminate "to light something up, or to make it clear", settled as the English word for lighting something up, or making it clear.