lustr-, lust- +

(Latin: light up, shine)


illustrate
1. To shed light upon, light up, illumine.
2. To clarify something by giving examples or making comparisons so as to "throw the light of intelligence upon; to make clear, elucidate, clear up, explain".
3. To provide explanatory or decorative pictures to accompany a printed, spoken, or electronic text.
4. To elucidate (a description, etc.) by means of drawings or pictures; to ornament (a book, etc.) in this way with elucidatory designs. Said also of the pictures themselves.
illustration
An example or comparison that helps to clarify or explain something.
2. The art or process of producing or providing pictures to accompany a text.
3. The action or fact of making clear or evident to the mind; setting forth clearly or pictorially; elucidation; explanation; exemplification.
illustrative, illustratively
Serving or tending to illustrate, make clear or elucidate; explanatory, elucidatory; affording an illustration or example; exemplificatory.
illustrator
Someone who gives or draws illustrations; the artist who illustrates a book or periodical.
illustrious, illustriously
1. Extremely distinguished and deservedly famous.
2. Possessing luster by reason of high birth or rank, noble or lofty action or qualities; distinguished, eminent; renowned, famous.
luster
1. A soft sheen of reflected light, especially from metal that has been polished gently.
2. A bright and shiny condition or tone.
3. The glory and magnificence of a great achievement.
4. A chandelier or candelabrum made of cut glass, designed to reflect the light.
5. The quality and amount of light reflected from the surface of a mineral. This is one of the ways in which a mineral is defined, the highest degree of luster being "splendent".
6. Luminosity, brilliancy, bright light; luminous splendor.
lustral
Serving to purify the spirit, or relating to ceremonies of religious purification. See lustrum for probable etymology.
lustrate
To make someone or something spiritually pure by means of a special religious ceremony.
lustrify
To make lustrous.
lustrine
A glossy silk fabric.
lustrous
With a soft shine, sheen, or gloss.
lustrously
In a lustrous manner, glossily.
lustrum
Historically, the purification of the entire ancient Roman people, taking place every five years after the census.

From Latin, "purification"; probably ultimately from an Indo-European word meaning "light, bright." The various phases of the sense development of lustrum may probably be as follows: "illumination, inspection, review, mustering, expiatory offering, expiation."

—According to Dr. Ernest Klein in his
A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language.
vitreous luster
A luster that resembles glass.

Etymologically related "light, shine, glow" word families: ethero-; fulg-; luco-; lumen-, lum-; luna, luni-; phengo-; pheno-; phospho-; photo-; scinti-, scintill-; splendo-.


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