| illuminati | Literally, those who are enlightened; variously applied as follows: 1. Persons in the early church who had received baptism; in which ceremony a lighted taper was given them, as a symbol of the spiritual illumination they has received by that sacrament. 2. Members of a sect which sprung up in Spain about the year 1575. Their principal doctrine was, that, by means of prayer, they had attained to so perfect a state as to have no need of ordinances, sacraments, good works, etc.; called also Alumbrados, Perfectibilists, etc. 3. Members of certain associations in Modern Europe, who combined to promote social reforms, by which they expected to raise men and society to perfection, especially. Of one originated in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, which spread rapidly for a time, but ceased after a few years. 4. Also applied to: An obscure sect of French Familists. 5. Any persons who profess special spiritual or intellectual enlightenment. Origin: L. Illuminatus, cf. Illuminee. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| illumination | 1. The act of illuminating, or supplying with light; the state of being illuminated. 2. Festive decoration of houses or buildings with lights. 3. Adornment of books and manuscripts with coloured illustrations. See Illuminate. 4. That which is illuminated, as a house; also, an ornamented book or manuscript. 5. That which illuminates or gives light; brightness; splendor; especially, intellectual light or knowledge. "The illumination which a bright genius giveth to his work." (Felton) 6. The special communication of knowledge to the mind by God; inspiration. "Hymns and psalms . . . Are framed by meditation beforehand, or by prophetical illumination are inspired." (Hooker) Origin: L. Illuminatio: cf. F. Illumination. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| illumination, critical | <microscopy> The formation of an image of the light source in the object field. The Nelsonian method in which the light source is imaged in the plane of the specimen. A ribbon filament or arc lamp is required to give uniform illumination, the lamp must be focusable, the filament position must be adjustable in all directions. The use of an achromatic condenser is advised. Synonym: Nelson illumination. (13 Jan 1998) |
| illumination, Kohler | <microscopy> A method of microscopical illumination, first described by A. Kohler, in which an image of the source is focused in the lower focal plane of the condenser and the field diaphragm is focused in the specimen plane. (05 Aug 1998) |
| illumination, oblique | <microscopy> Illumination from light inclined at an oblique angle to the optical axis. (05 Aug 1998) |