Illustrerad

Illustrerad is a Swedish adjective meaning "illustrated" or "containing illustrations." It describes works that include pictures, diagrams, or photographs accompanying the text, such as books, magazines, atlases, or articles. The term is used when indicating that visual material accompanies the written content, for example in phrases like "en illustrerad bok" or "illustrerad atlas." It can also appear in compound noun phrases such as "illustrerad upplaga" (illustrated edition).

Etymology and grammar: illustrerad is formed from the verb illustrera (to illustrate), which derives from Latin illustratus via French and other European languages. In Swedish, the past participle form changes to agree with the noun it modifies: "en illustrerad bok" (indefinite singular, common gender) and "ett illustrerat verk" (indefinite singular, neuter). Plural forms are "illustrerade böcker" and "illustrerade verk." The term is primarily descriptive, not a designation of the author or illustrator, though it often appears alongside titles or descriptions in catalogs and marketing copy.

Usage in publishing and culture: Historically, illustrated works were prominent in books and periodicals, especially before the widespread use of color printing. In modern publishing, "illustrerad" remains a standard descriptor for editions that include images, photographs, or diagrams, distinguishing them from text-only editions. It is commonly used in library catalogs, bibliographies, and product descriptions to signal visual content to readers.

See also: illustration, illustrator, illustrated edition.