dictionary definitions for "enlighten"


From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Enlighten \En*light"en\, v. t. [Pref. en- + lighten: cf. AS.
     inl[imac]htan. Cf. Enlight.]
     1. To supply with light; to illuminate; as, the sun
        enlightens the earth.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              His lightnings enlightened the world. --Ps. xcvii.
                                                    4.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To make clear to the intellect or conscience; to shed the
        light of truth and knowledge upon; to furnish with
        increase of knowledge; to instruct; as, to enlighten the
        mind or understanding.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The conscience enlightened by the Word and Spirit of
              God.                                  --Trench.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  enlighten
      v 1: make understand; "Can you enlighten me--I don't understand
           this proposal" [syn: enlighten, edify]
      2: give spiritual insight to; in religion [syn: enlighten,
         irradiate]
      3: make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear; "Could you
         clarify these remarks?"; "Clear up the question of who is at
         fault" [syn: clear, clear up, shed light on,
         crystallize, crystallise, crystalize, crystalise,
         straighten out, sort out, enlighten, illuminate,
         elucidate]


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