enlighten

Meaning

Verb

  • To supply with light.
  • To make something clear to (someone); to give knowledge or understanding to.

Origin

  • Formerly also inlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, inlightnen, a hybrid formed from inlighten, from Old English inlīhtan, onlīhtan, enlīhten and lightnen (equivalent to light + -en). Cognate with Dutch inlichten ("to enlighten, inform"), Old High German inliuhten ("to enlighten, illuminate"), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 ("to enlighten, illuminate"). More at inlight, -en.

Modern English dictionary

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