enlighten
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enlighten
- /ɪnˈlaɪtən/
- /ənˈlaɪtən/
- /ɛnˈlaɪtən/
Rhymes with -aɪtən
Where it comes from
Formerly also inlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, inlightnen, a hybrid formed from inlighten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), from Old English inlīhtan, onlīhtan, enlīhtan (“to enlighten, illuminate, give light to, give sight to”) and lightnen (“to enlighten, illuminate”) (equivalent to light + -en). Cognate with Dutch inlichten (“to enlighten, inform”), Old High German inliuhten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inliuhtjan, “to enlighten, illuminate”). More at inlight, -en.
verb enlightens · enlightening · enlightened
- To supply with light. The sun enlightens the Earth.
- To make something clear to (someone); to give knowledge or understanding to. She tried to enlighten them about the rules of the program, but they remained belligerently and self-righteously ignorant.
