illustrate: [16] Illustrate is closely related etymologically to illuminate. It goes back to Latin illustrāre, a compound verb formed from the prefix in- and lustrāre ‘make bright’, which came from the same base as produced Latin lūmen (source of illuminate) and lūx ‘light’, and indeed English light. Originally it meant literally ‘throw light on’, but this eventually passed via ‘elucidate’ to, in the 17th century, ‘exemplify’ and ‘add pictures to’.
More of the original sense of ‘brightness’ survives, albeit metaphorically, in illustrious [16], which comes from Latin illustris ‘shining, clear’, a back-formation from illustrāre. => illuminate, illustrious, light, luminous, lustre
illustrate (v.)
1520s, "light up, shed light on;" 1610s, "educate by means of examples," back-formation from illustration, and in some cases from Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare (see illustration). Sense of "provide pictures to explain or decorate" is 1630s. Related: Illustrated; illustrating.
双语例句
1. He quoted some old Chinese sayings to illustrate his points.
他援用了一些中国话来解释他的论点.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
2. I can cite quite a few instances to illustrate.
我可以举出好几件事来说明.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
3. The company's bank statements illustrate its success.
这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. This diagram will illustrate what I mean.
这个图表可说明我的意思.
来自《简明英汉词典》
5. Here are few examples to illustrate this principle.