1. (v. t.) Literally, those who are enlightened

2. (v. t.) Persons in the early church who had received baptism; in which ceremony a lighted taper was given them, as a symbol of the spiritual illumination they has received by that sacrament.

3. (v. t.) Members of a sect which sprung up in Spain about the year 1575. Their principal doctrine was, that, by means of prayer, they had attained to so perfect a state as to have no need of ordinances, sacraments, good works, etc.; -- called also Alumbrados, Perfectibilists, etc.

4. (v. t.) Members of certain associations in Modern Europe, who combined to promote social reforms, by which they expected to raise men and society to perfection, esp. of one originated in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, which spread rapidly for a time, but ceased after a few years.

5. (n.) An obscure sect of French Familists;

6. (n.) The Hesychasts, Mystics, and Quietists;

7. (n.) The Rosicrucians.

8. (v. t.) Any persons who profess special spiritual or intellectual enlightenment.

Brahmin academic academician affective authority bookish brain brainy bright cerebral characteristic conceptive conceptual constitutional discursive dispositional doctor egghead elder elder statesman elitist emotional endopsychic experimental scientist expert genius great soul guru highbrow highbrowed ideational illuminate illuminati innate intellect intellectualistic intelligence intelligent internal knowing literati lover of wisdom mahatma man of intellect man of science man of wisdom mandarin master mastermind mental mentor noetic noological not so dumb oracle philosopher phrenic polymath practical scientist professor psychic psychical psychologic psychological pundit rabbi rational reasonable reasoning rishi sage sane sapient savant scholar scholarly scientist seer sensible sophic spiritual starets strong-minded subjective technologist temperamental thinker thinking thought-provoking thoughtful understanding wise man wise old man