Verb

(en-verb)

To be symbolic of; to represent.

* {{quote-book, year=2006, author=

, title=Internal Combustion , chapter=2 citation , passage=The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.}}

To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.

(obsolete) To resemble each other in qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize.

* Francis Bacon

The pleasing of colour symbolizeth' with the pleasing of any single tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth ' symbolize with harmony.

* Howell

They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying glasses.

(obsolete) To hold the same faith; to agree.

* G. S. Faber

The believers in pretended miracles have always previously symbolized with the performers of them.

Verb

(illustrat)

(obsolete) To shed light upon; to illuminate.

* Were the Moon smooth, as a looking glass, a very small part would be seen by any particular eye to be illustrated by the Sun.

* Chapman

Here, when the moon illustrates all the sky.

To clarify something by giving, or serving as, an example or a comparison.

* Milton

To prove him, and illustrate his high worth.

* {{quote-news

, year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}

* We illustrate our definitions by including quotations or simple examples.

To provide a book or other publication with pictures, diagrams or other explanatory or decorative features.

* The economics textbook was illustrated with many graphs.

(obsolete) To give renown or honour to; to make illustrious; to glorify.

* Milton

Matter to me of glory, whom their hate / Illustrates .