illuminate
UK: ɪˈluːmɪneɪt | US: ɪˈluːmɪneɪt
vt. to light up or brighten with light
vt. to clarify or explain something intellectually
vt. to decorate a manuscript with gold, colors, or designs
The word "illuminate" traces back to Latin illuminare ("to light up"), combining in- (upon) and lumen (light). The root lumen also gives rise to words like "luminous" and "luminary." Originally used for physical lighting, its meaning expanded metaphorically to intellectual enlightenment in the 15th century, reflecting the Renaissance ideal of knowledge as a "light" dispelling ignorance. The artistic sense (decorating manuscripts) stems from medieval practices of using gold leaf to make pages gleam.
The lanterns illuminate the garden path at night.
Her lecture illuminated the complexities of quantum physics.
Medieval monks would illuminate manuscripts with intricate designs.
The sunrise slowly illuminated the mountain peaks.
His research illuminated previously unknown historical connections.