illustrate: [16] Illustrate is closely related etymologically to illuminate. It goes back to Latin illustrāre, a compound verb formed from the prefix in- and lustrāre ‘make bright’, which came from the same base as produced Latin lūmen (source of illuminate) and lūx ‘light’, and indeed English light. Originally it meant literally ‘throw light on’, but this eventually passed via ‘elucidate’ to, in the 17th century, ‘exemplify’ and ‘add pictures to’.
More of the original sense of ‘brightness’ survives, albeit metaphorically, in illustrious [16], which comes from Latin illustris ‘shining, clear’, a back-formation from illustrāre. => illuminate, illustrious, light, luminous, lustre
illustrate (v.)
1520s, "light up, shed light on;" 1610s, "educate by means of examples," back-formation from illustration, and in some cases from Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare (see illustration). Sense of "provide pictures to explain or decorate" is 1630s. Related: Illustrated; illustrating.
权威例句
1. He quoted some old Chinese sayings to illustrate his points.
他援用了一些中国话来解释他的论点.
2. I can cite quite a few instances to illustrate.
我可以举出好几件事来说明.
3. The company's bank statements illustrate its success.
这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功.
4. This diagram will illustrate what I mean.
这个图表可说明我的意思.
5. Here are few examples to illustrate this principle.
【demonstrate, illustrate】
这组词都有“说明”的意思,其区别是:
demonstrate: v.多指通过具体动作或物体进行演示、示范、表演、展示等以达到说明或解释的目的。
• This salesman demonstrated how to cook with a pressure cooker. 这个推销员当众演示如何用压力锅煮东西。
illustrate: v.强调通过举例、列图表或比较等方式来说明道理。
• The teacher illustrated the history lesson by telling a story about George Washington. 那个老师通过乔治·华盛顿的故事来讲述他的历史课。