Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ILLUSTRIOUS
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pronounce
ILLUSTRIOUS:
Say it "ih LUST tree us."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
You'll recognize the illustration and words below from "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore.
(Did anyone else think, until this very moment, that the real title was "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"?!)
Okay, so, check out that lovely illustration, and the use of the word luster.
If a luster is a shine, and something illustrious is shiny--literally, like the scene above, or figuratively, like the poem it comes from--then an illustration is... a way to make something shine?
Pretty much, yes! Literally speaking, an illustration is something that enlightens: something that clarifies or sheds light. I love that.
While we're talking about light as a metaphor for clarity, let's review some other words. Something lucid or pellucid (like an argument or explanation) is shiny, in a figurative way: it's really clear and easy to understand. So, to _lucid___ something is to make it really clear, or make it really easy to understand, as if shining a light on it. Could you recall that one?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
Our word "illustrious" has Latin roots that basically mean "made bright."
In English, at first, "illustrious" meant "shiny, shining, bright, lit up."
Now, it has a more figurative meaning. Illustrious people and things are famous and noble, as if they shine like bright lights.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "this illustrious athlete," "an illustrious career."
Other forms:
illustriously, illustriousness
how to use it:
The tone of the word "illustrious" is very, very positive. Generally we apply it to extremely famous and impressive people. And sometimes, to extremely famous and impressive places, things, names, deeds, accomplishments, and careers: "the illustrious Smithsonian museums," "these illustrious names emblazoned on statues."
And because the tone is so intense and so positive, "illustrious" is also a great pick for humor, sarcasm, and exaggeration. Here's a bit from Ray Stevens's song "Shriners' Convention:"
"Operator, give me room 321, please.
Hello, Noble Lumpkin?
This here's the Illustrious Potentate. …
I said it's the Illustrious Potentate.
The Illustrious-- Coy!
Dad blame it! This here's Bubba!”
examples:
"[Dame Diana Rigg's] illustrious acting career earned her multiple award nominations and made her both an Emmy and Tony Award winner."
— Tyler McCarthy, Fox News, 10 September 2020
"Now, Ellen DeGeneres joins an illustrious line of women in Hollywood rumored to be difficult to work with or for."
— Melanie McFarland, Salon, 8 August 2020
has this page helped you understand "illustrious"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "illustrious" without saying "renowned" or "eminent."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "_____ is one of the most illustrious figures in the (field or history) of _____."
Example: "Sally Ride is one of the most illustrious figures in the history of space travel."
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for October is "Silly Smashings!"
In each issue this month, I'll give you the definition of a word I've concocted by smashing together two words we've studied before.
See if you can come up with the same silly smashing that I did.
For example, I'll say, "This noun means 'an extremely outdated, old-fashioned, ill-considered assumption that there are only two ways of dealing with a certain problem.'" And you'll say, "That's a troglodichotomy." (Which is a silly smashing of troglodyte and dichotomy.)
I'll list the answer at the bottom of each issue. Maybe your answer will match mine. Or maybe yours will be even better; if so, be sure to share it with me!
Try this one today:
This two-word phrase means "a situation in which an entire nation of people just can't decide how they want to exit a problem they're stuck in."
review this word:
1. A near opposite of ILLUSTRIOUS is
A. OBSCURE.
B. OBDURATE.
C. OBLIVIOUS.
2. I imagine it's hard to live with an illustrious name like _____.
A. Smith
B. Einstein
C. Xanthippe
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Say it "ih LUST tree us."
You'll recognize the illustration and words below from "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore.
Our word "illustrious" has Latin roots that basically mean "made bright."
Part of speech:
The tone of the word "illustrious" is very, very positive. Generally we apply it to extremely famous and impressive people. And sometimes, to extremely famous and impressive places, things, names, deeds, accomplishments, and careers: "the illustrious Smithsonian museums," "these illustrious names emblazoned on statues."
"[Dame Diana Rigg's] illustrious acting career earned her multiple award nominations and made her both an Emmy and Tony Award winner."
Explain the meaning of "illustrious" without saying "renowned" or "eminent."
Fill in the blanks: "_____ is one of the most illustrious figures in the (field or history) of _____."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
1. A near opposite of ILLUSTRIOUS is
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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