Very famous, respected, and admired; having achieved great success and a stellar reputation.
From Latin 'illustris' meaning 'bright, clear, or shining.' It originally referred to things that were literally luminous or glowing, then evolved to describe people whose fame and accomplishments made them 'shine' in society.
An illustrious person was literally someone who 'shone brightly' in Roman society—the word started as a description of actual light and became a description of reputation. It's beautiful how language transforms physical light into the 'brightness' of achievement.
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