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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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

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

An éclaircissement, accompanied by mortifying circumstances, was not, however, long delayed.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 459 Volume 18, New Series, October 16, 1852 by Chambers, Robert

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

They had come within a single step of an éclaircissement, and when but another movement would have flooded their souls with light, some malignant influence had seized them by the throats.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 117, July, 1867. by Various