illuminati
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il·lu·mi·na·ti
(ĭ-lo͞o′mə-nä′tē)pl.n.
1. People claiming to be unusually enlightened with regard to a subject.
2. Illuminati Any of various groups claiming special religious or philosophical enlightenment.
[Latin illūminātī, from pl. of illūminātus, past participle of illūmināre, to light up; see illuminate.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
illuminati
(ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːtiː)pl n, sing -to (-təʊ)
(Philosophy) a group of persons claiming exceptional enlightenment on some subject, esp religion
[C16: from Latin, literally: the enlightened ones, from illūmināre to illuminate]
Illuminati
(ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːtiː)pl n, sing -to (-təʊ)
1. (Philosophy) any of several groups of illuminati, esp in 18th-century France
2. (Roman Catholic Church) a group of religious enthusiasts of 16th-century Spain who were persecuted by the Inquisition
3. (Christian Churches, other) a masonic sect founded in Bavaria in 1778 claiming that the illuminating grace of Christ resided in it alone
4. (Christian Churches, other) a rare name for the Rosicrucians
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
il•lu•mi•na•ti
(ɪˌlu məˈnɑ ti, -ˈneɪ taɪ)n.pl., sing. -to (-toʊ)
1. persons claiming to possess superior enlightenment.
2. (cap.) any of various religious sects claiming special enlightenment.
[1590–1600; < Latin illūminātī, pl. of illūminātus enlightened; see illuminate]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.