† enˈlumine, v. Obs.
Also 4–5 enlumyne, enlomyne.
[a. OF. enlumine-r, ad. late L. inlūmināre (in classical Lat. illūmināre), f. in- (see in-) + lūmen, lūmin-is light. Cf. illumine, illuminate, allumine. In sense 4 the word assumed the aphetic forms lumine, limn, the latter of which survives with modified sense.]
1. trans. To light up, illuminate; also transf.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce viii. 228 Thair speris, thair pennownys, & thar scheldis Of licht Illumynit [v.r. enlumymyt] all the feldis. 1481 Caxton Myrr. iii. xix. 176 The Sonne..enlumineth alle the other by his beaulte. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 488 So were y⊇ powers of her soule enlumined with the orient beames of his divine inspiration. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. Prol. 7 That same great glorious lampe of light, That doth enlumine all these lesser fyres. |
b. To give sight to.
| 1495 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W.) iii. viii. 320 a, How fyue lytyll lyons beyng blynde were enlumyned by an holyman. |
2. fig. To enlighten (ignorance, etc.); to throw light upon (a subject).
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 86 Theorike principalle..is enlumined Of wisdome. c 1400 Test. Love i. (1560) 272 b/2 Worldes and cloud atweene us twey woll not suffer my thoughts of hem to be enlumined. c 1430 Lydg. Lyfe & Pass. St. Albon (1534) A. ij, In hope his influence shall shyne My tremblyng penne by grace to enlumyne. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) I. 121 Strengthynge the body, the herte enlumynynge. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 56 This kinde of people, enlumined by the Prince of darknes..did rayse out of hell, this newfangled monster of Transubstantiation. |
3. To light, kindle (a fire).
| 1475 Caxton Jason 19 Whiche enlumyned in him so terryble a fyre. |
4. [Cf. med.L. lumina (lit. ‘lights’) the paintings in a MS.] To illuminate, adorn (MSS.) with coloured designs or miniatures. Also fig.
| c 1366 Chaucer A.B.C. 73 Kalendeeres enlumyned ben þei. c 1400 Rom. Rose 1695 For it so welle was enlomyned. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy Prol., For he enlumineth by craft and cadence, This noble storye with many freshe coloure Of Rethorik. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cc. (cxciv.) 609, I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned. |
5. fig. To shed lustre upon, render illustrious or brilliant.
| c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. Prol. 33 Fraunces Petrark..Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie. c 1450 Merlin xx. 326, Xij sones, where-of the londe of Bretaigne was after enlumyned. 1579 E. K. in Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Ep. Ded., Those rough and harsh tearmes enlumine..the brightnesse of brave and glorious wordes. |