enlighten

enlighten
enlighten late 14c., "to remove the dimness or blindness (usually figurative) from one's eyes or heart;" see EN- (Cf. en-) (1) + LIGHT (Cf. light) (n.). O.E. had inlihtan. Related: Enlightening. Enlightened is from 1630s in the sense "illuminated;" 1660s in the sense "well-informed."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Enlighten — En*light en, v. t. [Pref. en + lighten: cf. AS. inl[=i]htan. Cf. {Enlight}.] 1. To supply with light; to illuminate; as, the sun enlightens the earth. [1913 Webster] His lightnings enlightened the world. Ps. xcvii. 4. [1913 Webster] 2. To make… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enlighten — I verb account for, acquaint, apprise, clarify, disclose, divulge, edify, educate, elucidate, enable to comprehend, enable to see, enucleate, explain, explicate, expound, free from ignorance, free from prejudice, free from superstition, give… …   Law dictionary

  • enlighten — illustrate, illuminate, illume, light, lighten Analogous words: educate, instruct, train, *teach, school: inform, apprise, acquaint, advise Antonyms: confuse, muddle Contrasted words: mystify, perplex, *puzzle, bewilder: addle, fuddle (see… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • enlighten — [v] explain thoroughly; make aware acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catechize, cause to understand, civilize, convert, counsel, direct, disclose, divulge, edify, educate, elucidate, give faith*, give the lowdown*, give the word*, guide, illume,… …   New thesaurus

  • enlighten — ► VERB 1) give greater knowledge and understanding to. 2) (enlightened) rational, tolerant, and well informed …   English terms dictionary

  • enlighten — [en līt′ n, inlīt′ n] vt. 1. a) to give the light of fact and knowledge to; free from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition b) Religion to give spiritual insight and understanding to 2. to make clear to (a person) the facts or nature of… …   English World dictionary

  • Enlighten Me — Infobox Single Name = Enlighten Me Cover size = Caption = Artist = Echo the Bunnymen Album = Reverberation A side = B side = Lady Don t Fall Backwards Released = October 1990 Format = 7 inch, 12 inch, CD Recorded = Genre = Alternative rock Length …   Wikipedia

  • EnLighten — Infobox Radio Station name = enLighten area = United States Canada branding = enLighten slogan = The Great Escape airdate = 2006 04 17 frequency = XM 34 format = Southern Gospel erp = class = Satellite Radio Station owner = XM Satellite Radio… …   Wikipedia

  • enlighten — v. (D; tr.) to enlighten about, on (can you enlighten me on this subject?) * * * [ɪn laɪtn] on (can you enlightenme on this subject?) (D;tr.) to enlighten about …   Combinatory dictionary

  • enlighten — [[t]ɪnla͟ɪt(ə)n[/t]] enlightens, enlightening, enlightened VERB: no cont To enlighten someone means to give them more knowledge and greater understanding about something. [FORMAL] [V n] A few dedicated doctors have fought for years to enlighten… …   English dictionary

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