n. [ F. balustrade, It. balaustrata fr. balaustro. See Baluster. ] (Arch.) A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, or the eaves of a building, or as a guard railing on a staircase; -- it serves as a guard to prevent people from falling.
Syn. -- bannister, banister, balusters, handrail, guard rail. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ See Fluster, v. t. ] To fluster. [ Colloq. ] Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of flustrating; confusion; flurry. [ Colloq. ] Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of illustration. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Illustrated p. pr. & vb. n. Illustrating ] [ L. illustratus, p. p. of illustrare to illustrate, fr. illustris bright. See Illustrious. ] 1. To make clear, bright, or luminous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here, when the moon illustrates all the sky. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To set in a clear light; to exhibit distinctly or conspicuously. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To prove him, and illustrate his high worth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make clear, intelligible, or apprehensible; to elucidate, explain, or exemplify, as by means of figures, comparisons, and examples. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To adorn with pictures, as a book or a subject; to elucidate with pictures, as a history or a romance. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To give renown or honor to; to make illustrious; to glorify. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Matter to me of glory, whom their hate
Illustrates. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. illustratus, p. p. ] Illustrated; distinguished; illustrious. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. provided with pictures; -- of a publication; as, an illustrated weekly. Opposite of unillustrated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. illustratio: cf. F. illustration. ] 1. The act of illustrating; the act of making clear and distinct; education; also, the state of being illustrated, or of being made clear and distinct. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which illustrates; a comparison or example intended to make clear or apprehensible, or to remove obscurity. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A picture designed to decorate a volume or elucidate a literary work. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tending or designed to illustrate, exemplify, or elucidate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Making illustrious. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By way of illustration or elucidation. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who illustrates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving to illustrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. lustralis, fr. lustrum: cf. F. lustral. See Lustrum. ] 1. Of or pertaining to, or used for, purification; as, lustral days; lustral water. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to a lustrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lustrated p. pr. & vb. n. Lustrating ] [ L. lustratus, p. p. of lustrare to lustrate, fr. lustrum. See Lustrum. ] To make clear or pure by means of a propitiatory offering; to purify. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must purge, and cleanse, and lustrate the whole city. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. lustratio: cf. F. lustration. ] 1. The act of lustrating or purifying. [ 1913 Webster ]

And holy water for lustration bring. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Antiq.) A sacrifice, or ceremony, by which cities, fields, armies, or people, defiled by crimes, pestilence, or other cause of uncleanness, were purified. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. paluster, -ustris. ] Of or pertaining to a bog or marsh; boggy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. perlustrare to wander all through, to survey. See 3d Luster. ] The act of viewing all over. [ Archaic ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]