illustrious
pronunciation
How to pronounce illustrious in British English:
UK [ɪˈlʌstriəs]
How to pronounce illustrious in American English:
US [ɪˈlʌstriəs]
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- Adjective:
- widely known and esteemed
- having or conferring glory
- having or worthy of pride
Word Origin
- illustrious (adj.)
- 1560s, from Latin illustris "lighted, bright, brilliant;" figuratively "distinguished, famous," probably a back-formation from illustrare "embellish, distinguish, make famous" (see illustration). Sometimes also illustrous. Replaced illustre in same sense (mid-15c.), from Middle French illustre.
Example
- 1. Dr leakey is a member of an illustrious palaeontological clan .
- 2. Photo.net has a great interview with menzel where menzel talks about his illustrious career .
- 3. To be sure , modernism had its illustrious intellectual ancestry .
- 4. Many are seduced by gold , but its less illustrious cousin , silver , is now attracting considerable attention .
- 5. The french fans sitting near the corner flag in stade de france in paris rose and whistled , mocking england 's illustrious player .