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Illuminate vs Illuminati - What's the difference?

illuminate | illuminati |

As nouns the difference between illuminate and illuminati

is that illuminate is someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment while Illuminati is any of various societies, sects or other people claiming religious or intellectual enlightenment.

As a verb illuminate

is to shine light on something.

As an adjective illuminate

is enlightened.

illuminate

English

Verb

(illuminat)
  • To shine light on something.
  • To decorate something with lights.
  • To clarify or make something understandable.
  • To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.
  • (figurative) To make spectacular.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=June 2 , author= Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Belgium , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down.}}
  • To glow; to light up.
  • * 1994 , Sylvia Carlson, ?Verne Carlson, Professional Cameraman's Handbook (ISBN 024080080X), page 494:
  • Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector.
  • * 2011'/'''2012 , "Spectrum", written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, performed by (Florence and the Machine), released on the album ''Ceremonials (2011):
  • Say my name / and every color illuminates. / We are shining /
  • To be exposed to light.
  • (military) To direct a (radar) beam toward.
  • Synonyms

    * *

    Derived terms

    * transilluminate * illuminator

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) enlightened
  • (Bishop Hall)
    ----

    illuminati

    Noun

    (en-plural noun)
  • Any of various societies, sects or other people claiming religious or intellectual enlightenment.
  • # Persons in the early church who had received baptism and been given a lighted taper as a symbol of the spiritual illumination they had received.
  • # Members of a Spanish sect of the sixteenth century, who believed that, by means of prayer, they had attained so perfect a state as to have no need of ordinances, sacraments, good works, etc.; the Alumbrados or Perfectibilists.
  • # Members of certain associations in Europe who combined to promote social reform in pursuit of perfection; especially one originated in 1776 by (Adam Weishaupt).
  • # An obscure sect of French familists.
  • # The Hesychasts, Mystics, and Quietists.
  • # The Rosicrucians.
  • An alleged global, elite, secret society which has as its ultimate objective the subjugation of humanity (world domination or New World Order).
  • The methods of control used by "Ming the Merciless, Rules of the Universe" in the 1980 film ''Flash Gordon'' are a metaphor for what some perceive to be the influence of the Illuminati on the real world.
    (Webster 1913)