Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Illumination \Il*lu`mi*na"tion\, n. [L. illuminatio: cf. F.
   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 colored
      illustrations. See {Illuminate}, v. t., 3.

   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. (Theol.) 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.

Source : WordNet®

illumination
     n 1: a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination;
          "follow God's light" [syn: {light}]
     2: the degree of visibility of your environment
     3: an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding;
        "the professor's clarification helped her to understand
        the textbook" [syn: {clarification}, {elucidation}]
     4: the luminous flux incident on a unit area [syn: {illuminance}]
     5: painting or drawing included in a book (especially in
        illuminated medieval manuscripts) [syn: {miniature}]