LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivethird-declension two-termination adjective

illūstris

illūstris (neuter illūstre, comparative illūstrior, superlative illūstrissimus)
Classical[ɪlˈluːs.trɪs]Ecclesiastical[ilˈlus.tris]

Meaning

  1. two terminationbright, shining, brilliant, lustrous
  2. two terminationclear, lucid
  3. two terminationillustrious, distinguished, famous, prominent
  4. two terminationhighborn, noble (of rank)

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Luculentus · Illustris

Luculentus means, what may be seen, and need not shun the light, synonymously with probabilis; whereas illustris (from λεύσσω) what makes itself seen, attracts the eye, and spreads its rays, synonymously with excellens. Hence luculentus never implies emphatic praise. Cic. Off. iii. 14, 60. Hoc quidem satis luculente, that is, it is probable enough. And Fin. ii. 5, 15. Cum Græce ut videor luculenter sciam, without presumption; just like, sic satis. (ii. 84.)

Celeber · Inclytus · Clarus · Illustris · Nobilis.

Celeber; Inclytus; Clarus; Illustris; Nobilis. Celeber (from κλέος) and inclytus (from κλυτός) denote celebrity, as general expressions, chiefly as belonging to things, and seldom as belonging to persons, except in poetry; clarus, illustris, and nobilis, with an especial political reference; clarus (γαληρός) means renowned for eminent services to one’s country; illustris (from ἀναλεύσσω) renowned for rank and virtue; nobilis (from novisse) belonging to a family whose members have already been invested with the honors of the state.

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeillūstrisillūstrisillūstre
inlūstre
genitiveillūstrisillūstrisillūstris
dativeillūstrī
inlūstrī		illūstrī
inlūstrī		illūstrī
inlūstrī
accusativeillūstrem
inlūstrem		illūstrem
inlūstrem		illūstre
inlūstre
ablativeillūstrī
inlūstrī		illūstrī
inlūstrī		illūstrī
inlūstrī
vocativeillūstrisillūstrisillūstre
inlūstre
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeillūstrēs
inlūstrēs		illūstrēs
inlūstrēs		illūstria
inlūstria
genitiveillūstrium
inlūstrium		illūstrium
inlūstrium		illūstrium
inlūstrium
dativeillūstribus
inlūstribus		illūstribus
inlūstribus		illūstribus
inlūstribus
accusativeillūstrīs
illūstrēs, inlūstrēs		illūstrīs
illūstrēs, inlūstrēs		illūstria
inlūstria
ablativeillūstribus
inlūstribus		illūstribus
inlūstribus		illūstribus
inlūstribus
vocativeillūstrēs
inlūstrēs		illūstrēs
inlūstrēs		illūstria
inlūstria

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

exemplum illustre
a good, brilliant example; a striking example.
nox sideribus illustris
a star-light night.
nobili, honesto, illustri loco or genere natus
of illustrious family.

illustris (inl-), e (
I. nom. sing. masc. illuster. Val. Max. 4, 1, 5; 4, 3, 11), adj. inlustro, lighted up, clear, bright, light, lustrous (class.; esp. freq. in the trop. signif.).
I. Lit.: ostendebat Carthaginem de excelso et pleno stellarum, illustri et claro quodam loco, Cic. Rep. 6, 11; cf.: tum nec nimis illustres nec vehementer obscuros locos haberi oportet, Auct. Her. 3, 19, 32: locus, Cels. 3, 6: habitare bonis et illustribus domiciliis, Cic. N. D. 2, 37, 95: balnearia, Col. 1, 6, 2: illustris et pellucida stella, Cic. Div. 1, 57, 130: radii solis, Plin. 18, 35, 78, § 344: noctes, id. 9, 16, 23, § 56: caelum, Val. Fl. 6, 528.—Comp.: ostio et lumine illustriore, Varr. R. R. 3, 5, 5; cf.: solis candor illustrior est quam ullius ignis, Cic. N. D. 2, 15, 40: (ventus) tegulas illustriores fecit, Plaut. Rud. 1, 1, 6.—
II. Trop.
A. Clear, plain, distinct, evident, manifest (syn. clarus): praeter haec, quae testata sunt et illustria, habeo multa occultiora, Cic. Fam. 11, 27, 6: his rationibus tam certis tamque illustribus, etc., id. Rep. 1, 3; cf.: illustribus igitur rebus insistis ... a certis et illustrioribus cohibes assensum, id. Ac. 2, 29, 94: nec vero ita disseram de re tam illustri tamque nota, ut, etc., id. Rep. 1, 24 Mos.: factum illustre notumque omnibus, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34: visus insignis et illustris, id. N. D. 1, 2, 15 fin.: illustris oratio est, si, etc. ... est enim haec pars orationis, quae rem constituat paene ante oculos ... est plus aliquanto illustre quam illud dilucidum: altero fit, ut intelligamus, altero vero ut videre videamur, id. Part. Or. 6, 20: si desit illustris explanatio, propositio, etc., Quint. 9, 2, 2: instruenda est vita exemplis illustribus, Sen. Ep. 83.—
B. Distinguished, respectable, famous, honorable, illustrious (cf.: clarus, insignis, spectabilis, nobilissimus, celeber, inclutus): homines illustres honore ac nomine, Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 5, 18: illustrium hominum aetates et tempora persequi (shortly after: de clarorum virorum laudibus), Cic. Brut. 19, 74: illustribus in personis temporibusque, id. Rep. 2, 31 fin.: orator, id. Brut. 32, 122: poëtae, Quint. 5, 11, 36: florens et illustris adulescens, Caes. B. G. 7, 32, 4: de antiquis illustrissimus quisque pastor erat, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 6: philosophorum illustrissimi, Gell. 18, 7, 3: feminae, noble, Suet. Tib. 45; id. Calig. 36: cum illustribus provinciarum, id. Caes. 48: quorundam illustrium exsequiae, id. Tib. 32: paterfamiliae illustriore loco natus, Caes. B. G. 6, 19, 3: Themistoclis nomen est quam Solonis illustrius, Cic. Off. 1, 22, 75: vitae ratio illustrior, id. Rep. 3, 3; cf.: sunt illustriora quae publice fiunt, id. ib. 3, 12: haec vides quanto expressiora quantoque illustriora futura sint, id. Fam. 1, 7, 9: major atque illustrior res, more important, more remarkable, Caes. B. G. 7, 3, 2: causarum illustrium quascumque defendi nunc conficio orationes, Cic. de Sen. 11, 38.—Hence, adv. (acc. to II. A.), clearly, distinctly, perspicuously (very rare; only comp. and sup.): illustrius, Cic. Fam. 10, 19, 1; id. Dom. 11, 27; Arn. 2, 44: illustrissime descripsit, Gell. 9, 13, 4.

Origins

Back-formation from illūstrō.

Descendants
  • Frenchillustre
  • Germanerlaucht
  • Italianillustre
  • Portugueseilustre
  • Romanianilustru
  • Spanishilustre
  • Piedmonteseilustr

In English words that came into English from illūstris

  • illustriousillūstris
  • illustreillūstris

Quick answers

What does illūstris mean in Latin?
illūstris, a adjective, means “bright, shining, brilliant, lustrous; clear, lucid; illustrious, distinguished, famous, prominent”.
How do you pronounce illūstris?
In classical Latin, [ɪlˈluːs.trɪs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ilˈlus.tris].