Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Possessing luster or brightness; brilliant; luminous; splendid. 2. (a.) Characterized by greatness, nobleness, etc.; eminent; conspicuous; distinguished. 3. (a.) Conferring luster or honor; renowned; as, illustrious deeds or titles. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ILLUSTRIOUS, THE i-lus'-tri-us (thaumastos): A title of rank and merit attached to the name of Bartacus, the father of Apame (1 Esdras 4:29, the King James Version "the admirable). Instead of "the illustrious" we should possibly read "colonel" (Ant., XI, iii, 5; EB, under the word). See BARTACUS; APAME.

Multi-Version Concordance Illustrious (1 Occurrence) Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, to usher in the day of the Lord-- that great and illustrious day; (WEY YLT)