Il-lū'mĭ-nā'tī, n. pl.

n. pl. [Lat. illuminatus, Fr. illuminé, p. p. of illuminare, illuminer. See supra.] 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 faith and grace they had received by that sacrament.
2. (Eccl. Hist.) Certain heretics who sprung up in Spain about the year 1775, 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.
3. (Mod. Hist.) Members of certain associations in modern Europe, who were said to have combined to promote social reforms, by which they expected to raise men and society to perfection. Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, was the originator of such an association, which spread rapidly for a time, but ceased to act after existing about sixteen years.
4. Any persons who profess extraordinary discoveries, whether by natural methods or superior gifts.