A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1552
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Illumine, v. Also: illum(m)yn(e, illwmyne, illuimin. [ME. illumine (c 1340), F. illuminer (12th-13th c.), L. illūmināre. Cf. Ellummyn and Enlumyne.]
1. tr. To illuminate, shed light upon, light up, make bright. Also absol., to give light, to shine. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1366.
Day next eftre folowand With lyght illumynit the land 1487 Brus viii. 228 (C).
Thair speris … Of licht illumynit all the feldis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 140/29.
The licht … illumynit the aire c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 41.
Go se the birdis … , Illumynit our with orient skyis bricht 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 20.
Aurora … the hevynly portis cristallyne Vpwarpis braid, the warld to illumyn c1552 Lynd. Mon. 143.
Phebus … Quhose brycht and buriall bemes … Illumynit all on to the Occidentabsol. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 1255.
Quhar he apperyt, thar schawyt sa mekill lycht, Lyk till lawntryns it illumynyt so cler
b. intr. To become light or bright, to be illuminated. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 21. c1500-c1512 Ib. 157.
Fresche May … , gilt with Phebus bemys, Quhill all the hous illumynit of hir lemys
2. To enlighten spiritually or mentally. a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 101.
God hire harte illumynyt sa That scho dressit hire thar to ga c1420 Wynt. v. 4892.
Quhen Crystyn fay Illumynyd thaim in trewth werry 1456 Hay II. 115/19.
God … has maist illumynit the philosophouris and the prophetis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 15/28.
Before that God illumyne the saull with grace
3. To illuminate (manuscripts), adorn with bright designs. See also Illum(i)nyn(g vbl. n. 1502 Treasurer's Accounts II. 350.
To Schir Thomas Gabreth to pas to Edinburgh to illumyn the trewis and the conjunct infeftment 1507 Ib. III. 365.
For tua quaris gold to illummyn the articules send in France for the justing c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 425 (M).
My brycht buik … With mony lustie letter illuminit [Ch. & M. ellummynit] with gold
4. fig. To make bright as if with light, to adorn brightly. c1420 Wynt. vii. 843.
He illumynyd in his dayis His landys wyth kyrkys and wyth abbayis c1420 Ib. 931. 1487 Brus xx. 229 (C).
Ȝour hert that illwmynyt wes Of all bounte and worthynes c1515 Asloan MS I. 317/29.
The fourt age quhar as he [God] flourit & illuminit the warld with … maieste and templis 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 335.
Virgill left na thing behynd That mycht hys volume illummyn or crafty mak
5. To set alight, to kindle, to light. 1456 Hay I. 141/33.
Wyne … illumynis the fyre to bryn the liver throu the … black colle
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"Illumine v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/illumine>
