enlighten
Use Enlighten in a sentence
nRelated forms
en·light·ened·ly, adverb
en·light·ened·ness, noun
en·light·en·er, noun
en·light·en·ing·ly, adverb
non·en·light·ened, adjective
non·en·light·en·ing, adjective
pre·en·light·en, verb (used with object)
pre·en·light·en·er, noun
re·en·light·en, verb (used with object)
un·en·light·ened, adjective
un·en·light·en·ing, adjective
well-en·light·ened, adjective
Synonyms
1. illumine, edify, teach, inform.
1. illumine, edify, teach, inform.
Antonyms
1. mystify, confuse, perplex, puzzle.
1. mystify, confuse, perplex, puzzle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To enlighten
00:10
Enlighten
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
enlighten (ɪnˈlaɪtən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to give information or understanding to; instruct; edify |
| 2. | to free from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition |
| 3. | to give spiritual or religious revelation to |
| 4. | poetic to shed light on |
| en'lightener | |
| —n | |
| en'lightening | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
enlighten
late 14c. (O.E. had inlihtan), "to remove the dimness or blindness (usually figurative) from one's eyes or heart," from en- + lighten. Related: Enlightened; enlightening.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Let me try to enlighten him.
Obviously you care enough to enlighten us with your insightful reply.
Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge about the fly-by-wire system could enlighten us.
Again, these simplistic cultural stereotypes really do nothing to enlighten us, and meanwhile provide fodder for racists.
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