illustration

Meanings

1. The act of illustrating; the act of making clear and distinct.
2. The state of being illustrated, or of being made clear and distinct.
3. Something which illustrates; a comparison or example intended to make clear or apprehensible, or to remove obscurity.
4. A picture designed to decorate a publication, or elucidate a literary work.
5. A calculated prevision of insurance premiums and returns (life insurance)

Etymology

From Middle French illustration, from Latin illūstrātiō, from illūstrō (“to illustrate”). By surface analysis, illustrate + -ion.