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enlighten

[ en-lahyt-n ]
/ ɛnˈlaɪt n /
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See synonyms for: enlighten / enlightened / enlightening / enlightens on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
to give intellectual or spiritual light to; instruct; impart knowledge to: We hope the results of our research will enlighten our colleagues.
Archaic. to shed light upon.
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Origin of enlighten

First recorded in 1350–1400, enlighten is from the Middle English word enli(g)htenen.See en-1, lighten1

OTHER WORDS FROM enlighten

Words nearby enlighten

enl., enlace, enlarge, enlargement, enlarger, enlighten, enlightened, enlightenment, Enlil, enlist, enlisted man
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to enlighten

acquaint, advise, civilize, edify, educate, inform, uplift, apprise, brief, catechize, convert, counsel, direct, disclose, divulge, elucidate, guide, illume, illuminate, illumine

How to use enlighten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for enlighten

enlighten
/ (ɪnˈlaɪtən) /
verb (tr)
to give information or understanding to; instruct; edify
to free from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition
to give spiritual or religious revelation to
poetic to shed light on

Derived forms of enlighten

enlightener, nounenlightening, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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