illustrious
adjective

- well known, respected, and admired for past achievements

Oxford Dictionary

- notably or brilliantly outstanding because of dignity or achievements or actions

Merriam-Webster

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Illustrious is a superlative, meaning that it expresses the highest or a very high degree of a quality. An illustrious career is more than just a good career; it's a very successful one that people respect.

It stems from the Latin illustris, meaning "lighted, bright, brilliant" in a literal sense. The figurative sense probably derived from the Latin verb illustrare, to "embellish, distinguish, make famous."

A shorter version of illustrious also exists in the adjective "lustrous," which often refers to a shiny surface (She wore a set of lustrous pearls). But it can also be used as a synonym for illustrious (His parents are proud of his lustrous achievements)

Illustrious also related to the noun illustration, which originally referred to a shining, such as a spiritual illumination. The modern sense relates to a picture or drawing or an example that makes something easier to understand (That's an excellent illustration of the problem).

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SYNONYMS

brilliant, celebrated, distinguished, eminent, esteemed, famed, famous, glorious, great, noble, notable, noted, outstanding, renowned

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Practice OWAD is a conversation

"He is retiring after a long and ILLUSTRIOUS scientific career."