Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Well known and very distinguished; eminent. synonym: famous.
- adjective Obsolete Shining brightly.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Possessing luster or brilliancy; luminous; bright; shining.
- Distinguished by greatness, genius, etc.; conspicuous; renowned; eminent: as, an illustrious general or magistrate; an illustrious prince or author.
- Conferring luster or honor; brilliant; transcendent; glorious.
- Synonyms and Distinguished, Eminent, etc. (see
famous ); remarkable, signal, exalted, noble, glorious.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Possessing luster or brightness; brilliant; luminous; splendid.
- adjective Characterized by greatness, nobleness, etc.; eminent; conspicuous; distinguished.
- adjective Conferring luster or honor; renowned.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
dignified
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective widely known and esteemed
- adjective having or conferring glory
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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One of our most distinguished sculptors was summoned, a short time since, to the house of a young lady, connected by birth with a family of the highest grade in the aristocracy of wealth, and united in marriage to the heir of a title illustrious in the military annals of the empire.
The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 2, January, 1851 Various
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I called the illustrious professor Tonal Kedem, Tonal Calamari, and any other number of off-the-cuff last names for 4 years.
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She is, indeed, in illustrious company and in the great tradition.
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After being well educated he commenced that course of patient and observant travel which was to render his name illustrious as a philosophic tourist and historian.
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In what, then, consists that wonderful excellence, that master-power which has made his name illustrious?
English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction Henry Coppee
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Wolmar, reading in the young law student the brilliant abilities that were one day to make his name illustrious, prevailed upon him to devote himself to the study of the New Testament in the original.
The Rise of the Hugenots, Vol. 1 (of 2) Henry Martyn Baird
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Charles de Sombreuil, whose sister had rendered the name illustrious by her heroism in the Reign of Terror.
Brittany & Its Byways Fanny Bury Palliser
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Marlborough, whose fame now flies through the world, and whose glorious actions will render his name illustrious, and rank him among the renowned worthies of all ages.
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Shortly after their erection, in 1829, the well known Sam Patch, whose diving propensities made his name illustrious, performed his noted, bold feat in 1830.
By Water to the Columbian Exposition Johanna S. Wisthaler
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But several have rendered the name illustrious by their contributions to literature, science, and the fine arts.
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