ENLIGHTEN

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does enlighten mean? 

• ENLIGHTEN (verb)
  The verb ENLIGHTEN has 3 senses:

1. make understand

2. give spiritual insight to; in religion

3. make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

  Familiarity information: ENLIGHTEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENLIGHTEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they enlighten    ... he / she / it enlightens   
Past simple: enlightened   
Past participle: enlightened   
-ing form: enlightening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make understand

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

edify; enlighten

Context example:

Can you enlighten me--I don't understand this proposal

Hypernyms (to "enlighten" is one way to...):

instruct; learn; teach (impart skills or knowledge to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to enlighten Sue

Derivation:

enlightenment (education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give spiritual insight to; in religion

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

enlighten; irradiate

Hypernyms (to "enlighten" is one way to...):

prophesy; vaticinate (predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

clear; clear up; crystalise; crystalize; crystallise; crystallize; elucidate; enlighten; illuminate; shed light on; sort out; straighten out

Context example:

Clear up the question of who is at fault

Hypernyms (to "enlighten" is one way to...):

clarify; clear up; elucidate (make clear and (more) comprehensible)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Exploration of the genes that induce longevity in animal models may enlighten the role of these genes in human disease and lifespan.

(Longevity Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

"Especially to gentlemen," added May, with a look which enlightened Amy as to one cause of her sudden fall from favor.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Something about the coming year in college or graduate school will be especially enlightening and have a strong bearing on your future course.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Here the gentlemen interposed with earnest petitions to be further enlightened on these two last-named points; but they got only blushes, ejaculations, tremors, and titters, in return for their importunity.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

If Lady Bertram, with all her incompetency and languor, could feel this, the inference of what her niece, alive and enlightened as she was, must feel, was elevating.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It moved slowly, but it enlightened my path, and I again went out in search of berries.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

He had been in love with Emma, and jealous of Frank Churchill, from about the same period, one sentiment having probably enlightened him as to the other.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But without your telling me anything definite, Mr. Holmes, you may do a great service if you would enlighten me on one point.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Our toil must be in silence, and our efforts all in secret; for in this enlightened age, when men believe not even what they see, the doubting of wise men would be his greatest strength.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness of wanton ill-nature.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)