Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Illuminati

‖

Il-luˊmi-na′ti

,
Noun.
pl.
[L.
illuminatus
. See
Illuminate
,
Verb.
T.
, and cf.
Illuminee
.]
Literally, those who are enlightened
; – variously applied as follows: –
1.
(Eccl.)
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.
(Eccl. Hist.)
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.
(Mod. Hist.)
Members of certain associations in Modern Europe, who combined to promote social reforms, by which they expected to raise men and society to perfection, esp. 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:
(a)
An obscure sect of French Familists;
(b)
The Hesychasts, Mystics, and Quietists;
(c)
The Rosicrucians.
5.
Any persons who profess special spiritual or intellectual enlightenment.

Webster 1828 Edition

Illuminati

ILLUMINA'TI

,
Noun.
A church term anciently applied to persons who had received baptism; in which ceremony they received a lighted taper, as a symbol of the faith and grace they had received by that sacrament.
1.
The name of a sect of heretics, who sprung up in Spain about the year 1575, and who afterward appeared in France. Their principal doctrine was, that by means of a sublime manner of prayer, they had attained to so perfect a state as to have no need of ordinances, sacraments and good works.
2.
The name given to certain associations of men in modern Europe, who combined to overthrow the existing religious institutions, and substitute reason, by which they expected to raise men and society to perfection.

Definition 2024

Illuminati

Illuminati

See also: illuminati

English

Noun

Illuminati pl ‎(plural only)

  1. Any of various societies, sects or other people claiming religious or intellectual enlightenment.
    1. Persons in the early church who had received baptism and been given a lighted taper as a symbol of the spiritual illumination they had received.
    2. Members of a Spanish sect of the sixteenth century, who believed that, by means of prayer, they had attained so perfect a state as to have no need of ordinances, sacraments, good works, etc.; the Alumbrados or Perfectibilists.
    3. Members of certain associations in Europe who combined to promote social reform in pursuit of perfection; especially one originated in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt.
    4. An obscure sect of French familists.
    5. The Hesychasts, Mystics, and Quietists.
    6. The Rosicrucians.
  2. An alleged global, elite, secret society which has as its ultimate objective the subjugation of humanity (world domination or New World Order).
    The methods of control used by "Ming the Merciless, Ruler of the Universe" in the 1980 film Flash Gordon are a metaphor for what some perceive to be the influence of the Illuminati on the real world.

Related terms

Translations

illuminati

illuminati

See also: Illuminati

Italian

Adjective

illuminati

  1. masculine plural of illuminato

Verb

illuminati

  1. second-person singular imperative of illuminarsi

Latin

Participle

illūminātī

  1. nominative masculine plural of illūminātus
  2. genitive masculine singular of illūminātus
  3. genitive neuter singular of illūminātus
  4. vocative masculine plural of illūminātus

References

Etymology

Latin illuminatus.

Similar Results