Weishaupt

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical figure known for founding the Bavarian Illuminati, a secret society that aimed to promote Enlightenment ideals
2. An influential philosopher and theorist from the 18th century, noted for his significant impact on the discussion of secret societies
3. A notable individual in the context of conspiracy theories, often associated with the promotion of rationalism and enlightenment thought

Etymology: Adam Weishaupt was a law professor at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria who, on 1 May 1776, founded the Order of the Illuminati, a secret society devoted to spreading Enlightenment ideals such as reason, religious tolerance and opposition to clerical and political privilege. The name "Weishaupt" is simply his surname, and it survives in English only as a proper noun, borrowed directly from German without any change to its spelling or sense. Because the Illuminati became a byword for shadowy conspiracy in later centuries, the name is often attached to theories far removed from Weishaupt's own aims. In English it is used to refer to the man himself, which is why it appears in histories of the Enlightenment and of secret societies rather than in general vocabulary.