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illuminator

American  
[ih-loo-muh-nay-ter] / ɪˈlu məˌneɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that illuminates.

  2. a device for illuminating, as a light source with a lens or mirror for concentrating light.

  3. a person who paints manuscripts, books, etc., with designs in color, gold, or the like.


Etymology

Origin of illuminator

1475–85; < Late Latin illūminātor, equivalent to illūminā ( re ) ( see illumine) + -tor -tor


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

There the show continues with a series of additional paintings and altarpieces, as well as his work as a manuscript illuminator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 22, 2025

His coronation invite was designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator whose work is inspired by the chivalric themes of Arthurian legend.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2023

The design, created by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator Andrew Jamieson, will be printed on a recycled card with gold foil detailing.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2023

Lastly, the stylus illuminator has a new push-type structure, and Technics says it’s been refined “to provide improved visibility of the stylus tip compared to previous models, even in a dark environment.”

From The Verge ● Jan. 7, 2019

To the artist and illuminator this work was undoubtedly delightful but to the man who had to do the drudgery of mere copying of long works, it was undoubtedly a wearisome task.

From Books Before Typography A Primer of Information About the Invention of the Alphabet and the History of Book-Making up to the Invention of Movable Types Typographic Technical Series for Apprentices #49 by Frederick W. (Frederick William) Hamilton

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