Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “illustration” come from?

Illustration comes from Middle French illustration, from Latin illustratio (a lighting up), derived from Latin illustro (to light up), formed from the prefix Latin in- and Latin in combined with Proto-Indo-European lewk- (to shine).

illustration (English): The act of illustrating; the act of making clear...

Definitions

  1. The act of illustrating; the act of making clear...

Ancestry of “illustration”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchillustration—
2Latinillūstrātiō—
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “illustration”

  • illo
  • illustrational
  • reillustration
  • イラストレーション
  • illusztráció
  • illusztrációk
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →