éclaircissement

American  

[ey-kler-sees-mahn] / eɪ klɛr sisˈmɑ̃ /

noun

French.

plural

éclaircissements

1. clarification; explanation.

2. (initial capital letter) the Enlightenment.

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Explanation

Eclaircissement is clarifying something that initially seemed impossible to understand. Once your teacher sits down and patiently explains how to solve an equation, an eclaircissement can finally take place. When something obscure or incomprehensible is cleared up for you, that's eclaircissement. It's a bit like enlightenment, producing a significant change in the way you perceive or understand. You might experience an eclaircissement about your mysterious and cranky neighbor when you see him tenderly caring for his pet pigeons; you understand him more clearly. The French éclaircissement comes from the verb éclaircir, "to clear up," and a Latin root meaning "clear."

Example Sentences

Now the coincidence of this meeting jolts him into an éclaircissement: "You're slow," said Loki, "but you get there in the end."

From The Guardian • Aug. 19, 2011

When the éclaircissement comes, it appears to me—as Mr. Carlyle said of Loyola that he ought to have consented to be damned—that Marius ought to have consented at least to be kicked.

From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2 To the Close of the 19th Century by Saintsbury, George

Seeing Emily in tears, and my father’s letter in her hand, he knew that an éclaircissement had taken place, or was in progress.

From Frank Mildmay Or, the Naval Officer by Marryat, Frederick

I had not seen my cousin Edward since the occurrence of the grand éclaircissement; he must have studiously avoided me; I suppose from policy, it could not have been from delicacy.

From Two Ghostly Mysteries A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family; and the Murdered Cousin by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan

I am at your service," he said; "but I would advise you to wait before we come to an éclaircissement.

From The Village Notary by E?tv?s, J?zsef