illumination

Noun

WordNet 3.0

a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination“follow God's light”Synonyms: light
the degree of visibility of your environment
an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding“the professor's clarification helped her to understand the textbook”Synonyms: clarification elucidation
the luminous flux incident on a unit areaSynonyms: illuminance
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)Synonyms: miniature

Illumination \Il*lu`mi*na"tion\, n. [L. illuminatio: cf. F. illumination.]

1.The act of illuminating, or supplying with light; the state of being illuminated. [1913 Webster]

2.Festive decoration of houses or buildings with lights. [1913 Webster]

3.Adornment of books and manuscripts with colored illustrations. See Illuminate, v. t., 3. [1913 Webster]

4.That which is illuminated, as a house; also, an ornamented book or manuscript. [1913 Webster]

5.That which illuminates or gives light; brightness; splendor; especially, intellectual light or knowledge. [1913 Webster]

The illumination which a bright genius giveth to his work.— Felton.[1913 Webster]

6.(Theol.) The special communication of knowledge to the mind by God; inspiration. [1913 Webster]

Hymns and psalms . . . are framed by meditation beforehand, or by prophetical illumination are inspired.— Hooker.[1913 Webster]