ENLIGHTENMENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Enlightenment mean? 

• ENLIGHTENMENT (noun)
  The noun ENLIGHTENMENT has 3 senses:

1. education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge

2. (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness

3. a movement in Europe from about 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine

  Familiarity information: ENLIGHTENMENT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENLIGHTENMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("enlightenment" is a kind of...):

education (knowledge acquired by learning and instruction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "enlightenment"):

edification; sophistication (uplifting enlightenment)

satori ((Zen Buddhism) a state of sudden spiritual enlightenment)

Antonym:

unenlightenment (a lack of understanding)

Derivation:

enlighten (make understand)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

enlightenment; nirvana

Hypernyms ("enlightenment" is a kind of...):

beatification; beatitude; blessedness (a state of supreme happiness)

Domain category:

Hindooism; Hinduism (a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils)

Buddhism (the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A movement in Europe from about 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

Age of Reason; Enlightenment

Context example:

the Enlightenment brought about many humanitarian reforms

Hypernyms ("Enlightenment" is a kind of...):

reform movement (a movement intended to bring about social and humanitarian reforms)

Instance hypernyms:

age; historic period (an era of history having some distinctive feature)

 Context examples 

I looked to my companion for enlightenment.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I pore over these cheeses without any result or enlightenment until dinner-time, when, having made a Mulatto of myself by getting the dirt of the slate into the pores of my skin, I have a slice of bread to help me out with the cheeses, and am considered in disgrace for the rest of the evening.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

With praiseworthy discretion, the good lady said nothing, and betrayed no sign of enlightenment, but cordially urged Laurie to stay and begged Amy to enjoy his society, for it would do her more good than so much solitude.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)