/i looh'meuh nah"tee, -nay"tuy/ , n.pl., sing. illuminato /-toh/ .
1. persons possessing, or claiming to possess, superior enlightenment.
2. ( cap. ) a name given to different religious societies or sects because of their claim to superior enlightenment.
[ 1590-1600; illuminati, pl. of ILLUMINATUS enlightened; see ILLUMINATE ]