Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Enlighten |
EnlightenVerb1. Make understand; "Can you enlighten me--I don't understand this proposal". 2. Give spiritual insight to; in religion. 3. Make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear: "Could you clarify these remarks?"; "Clear up the question of who is at fault". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "enlighten" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258. (references) |
Synonyms: EnlightenSynonyms: clarify (v), clear (v), clear up (v), crystalise (v), crystalize (v), crystallise (v), crystallize (v), edify (v), elucidate (v), illuminate (v), irradiate (v), shed light on (v), sort out (v), straighten out (v). (additional references) |
| Antonym: confuse (v). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Information | Verb: tell; inform, inform of; acquaint, acquaint with; impart, impart to; make acquaintance with, apprise, advise, enlighten, awaken; transmit. |
Verb: correct, set right, set straight, put straight; undeceive; enlighten. | |
Teaching | Verb: teach, instruct, educate, edify, school, tutor; cram, prime, coach; enlighten; (inform). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Enlighten |
| English words defined with "enlighten": Christ Within ♦ edify, Enlight ♦ Illighten, informative, Inlighten, Inner Light, instructive ♦ light, Light Within ♦ Reilluminate ♦ unenlightening, unilluminating, Unseel. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "enlighten": Mugwump Press. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "enlighten": Enlight. (references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | So, dad, are you ready to spread knowledge and enlighten minds (The Simpsons; writing credit: Artur Brauner; Paul Hengge) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Enlighten Thy Daughter (1934) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References | |||
Books |
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Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit |  | To enlighten a foreign critic. The Chicago citizen: Sir, we have the ruins, all right, but we are tired of preserving them. They won't keep. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
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| "Unusual Flower in Tuscany, Ita" by Liam Heffernan Commentary: "Don't know what it is. Can anyone enlighten me?." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| Author | Quotation |
St. Augustine | O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams. |
Thomas Jefferson | Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | It is time to enlighten the human race |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | And let you, Stephen, make a novena to your holy patron saint, the first martyr, who is very powerful with God, that God may enlighten your mind |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | They have no cause of their own to plead, but while they enlighten and sustain the reader his common sense will not refuse them |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Paul Harvey | Probably, he's some of an exhibitionist. But, also, when we pray for guidance, and doors continue to open instead of close, a person comes to think of his job as an obligation. To enlighten and inform. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| "Enlighten" is generally used as a lexical verb (infinitive) -- approximately 78.45% of the time. "Enlighten" is used about 116 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Lexical Verb (infinitive) | 78.45% | 91 | 34,491 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 21.55% | 25 | 69,787 |
| Total | 100.00% | 116 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes names derived from the word "enlighten". | |||
| Name | Gender | Language | Meaning |
| Havoth-jair | N/A | Biblical | The villages that enlighten |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
| |||
| Country | Name |
| USA | Enlighten Software Solutions, Inc. |
| (more examples...) |
Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.
Expressions using "enlighten": EnLighten Habit Modification Systems ♦ EnLighten System for Children with Learning Difficulties ♦ EnLighten System for Teenagers ♦ EnLighten Weight Management System ♦ i enlighten. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
enlighten | 19 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "enlighten"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | sqaroj (clarify, dissolve, elucidate, enucleate, explain, gloss, illuminate, illustrate, sharpen, straighten, straighten out), shkolloj (educate, train), ndriçoj (glisten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, light, lighten, shine, spotlight). (various references) | |
Arabic | نور ثقافيا, نور (clear, day, edify, flare, gleam, glow, illuminate, illumination), أضاء (brighten, burn, illuminate, illumine, light, lighten, shine, torch). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | осветлявам (irradiate, light), осведомявам (advertise, advertize, inform, notify, post, set on), просвещавам (illumine). (various references) | |
Chinese | 闡 (disclose, open, to express), 牖 (lattice window), 浚 (deepen, profound), 濬 (deepen, profound), 啟發 , 启迪 (enlightened, enlightening). (various references) | |
Czech | pouèit (instruct), osvítit (expose, illumine), informovat (inform). (various references) | |
Dutch | verlichten (abate, facilitate, illuminate, light), illumineren (illuminate). (various references) | |
Esperanto | ilumini (illuminate). (various references) | |
Farsi | تعلیم دادن (Drill, Educate, Guide, Teach), روشن فکرکردن , روشن کردن (Alight, Brighten, Clarify, Daylight, Elucidate, Explain, Ignite, Illuminate, Lighten, Refresh, Relume). (various references) | |
Finnish | valistaa (educate, illuminate). (various references) | |
French | illuminer, éclairons, éclairez, éclairer, éclairent. (various references) | |
German | erleuchten (illume, illuminate, inspire, light up, lighten). (various references) | |
Greek | διαφωτίζω (illuminate, shed light on). (various references) | |
Hebrew | להאיר (brighten, illuminate, light, lighten, shed light, shine), להנהיר (brighten, illumine). (various references) | |
Hungarian | megvilágosít (illuminate, to lighten), felvilágosít (acquaint, disabuse, illuminate, inform, lighten, to clue sy in, to clue sy up, to enlighten). (various references) | |
Indonesian | menjabarkan (verify), menguraikan (descriptive, disentangle), mencerahkan (illuminate). (various references) | |
Italian | illuminare (illuminate, illumine, light, light up, lighten). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 啓く (to edify, to enlighten). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | ひらく (to edify, to enlighten, to open). (various references) | |
Korean | 계몽하십시요. (various references) | |
Manx | soilshaghey da, cur toiggal da. (various references) | |
Norwegian | opplyse (lighten). (various references) | |
Papiamen | iluminá (illuminate). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | enlightenay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | iluminar (beacon, burn, clear, glow, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, lamp, light, lighten, limn, post, radiate, relume). (various references) | |
Romanian | explica (account, account for, construe, define, elucidate, enunciate, explain, explicate, expound, illuminate, illumine, interpret, justify, riddle, show, untie, vindicate), educa (breed, bring up, cultivate, educate, form, nurture, raise, school), edifica (build, erect, establish), revãrsa luminã, prelucra (adapt, analyse, analyze, change, discuss, elaborate, machine, operate, pick smb.'s brain, process, recast, remake, study, transform, work, work over), lumina (appear, beacon, brighten, burn, clarify, comprehend, explain, illuminate, lamp, light, light up, lighten, shine, teach, understand), lãmuri (clear, clinch, define, disembroil, disentangle, elucidate, explain, illuminate, illumine, illustrate, justify, lighten, riddle, show, solve, understand, unravel, untie), dumiri (understand), culturaliza. (various references) | |
Russian | просвещать. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | prosvetiti (edify, educate), prosvećivati (educate). (various references) | |
Spanish | iluminar (illuminate, illumine, light, light up, lighten, shine on, spotlight). (various references) | |
Swedish | upplysa (brighten, illuminate, illumine, inform, lighten). (various references) | |
Thai | สอน. (various references) | |
Turkish | bilgi vermek (acquaint, apprise, charge, clear, clear up, clue, cue smb. in, Gen, give directions, give smb. the dope, inform, keep informed, post, post up, state), aydınlatmak (brighten, charge, civilize, clear, clear up, clue, dissolve, elicit, elucidate, enucleate, flash, flash on, illume, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, let daylight into smth., light, light up, lighten, post, rake up, set light to, shine upon, solve, unravel), öğretmek (indoctrinate, initiate, instruct, introduce, profess, school, show, teach). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | інформувати (apprise, apprize), просвіщати. (various references) | |
Welsh | goleuo (illuminate, light). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | elucidant, inlustra, inlustrabis, inlustrabo, inlustratione, inlustrem, inlustret. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Luke Chapter 2, Verse 32 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | FwV eiV apokaluyin eqnwn kai doxan laou sou israhl |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israhel |
| Old English | 990 | West Saxon | Leoht to þeoda awrigenesse and to þines folces wuldre israhel: |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | Liyt to the schewyng of hethene men, and glorie of thi puple Israel. |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | A light to lighten the gentyls and the glory of thy people Israel. |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Luke Chapter 2, Verse 32 |
| Cebuano | usa ka kahayag alang sa pagbanwag sa mga Gentil, ug alang sa kadungganan sa imong katawhan nga Israel." |
| Croatian | svjetlost na prosvjetljenje naroda, slavu puka svoga izraelskoga." |
| Danish | et Lys til at oplyse Hedningerne og en Herlighed for dit Folk Israel." |
| Dutch | Een Licht tot verlichting der heidenen, en tot heerlijkheid van Uw volk Israel. |
| Finnish | valkeudeksi, joka on ilmestyvä pakanoille, ja kirkkaudeksi kansallesi Israelille". |
| French | Lumière pour éclairer les nations, Et gloire d`Israël, ton peuple. |
| German | ein Licht, zu erleuchten die Heiden, und zum Preis deines Volkes Israel. |
| Haitian Creole | Se yon limyè ki pou fè tout pèp yo konnen ou; se va yon lwanj pou Izrayèl pèp ou a. |
| Hungarian | Világosságul a pogányok megvilágosítására, és a te népednek, az Izráelnek dicsõségére. |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | bagaikan terang yang menerangi jalan bagi bangsa-bangsa yang lain, untuk datang kepada-Mu; yaitu terang yang mendatangkan kehormatan bagi umat-Mu Israel." |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | yaitu suatu terang-menerang bercahaya kepada orang kafir, dan kemuliaan bagi kaum-Mu Israel." |
| Italian | luce per illuminare le genti e gloria del tuo popolo Israele». |
| Latvian | Gaismu pagânu apgaismoðanai un Tavas Izraçïa tautas godu. |
| Manx Gaelic | Soilshey dy hoilshean er ny Ashoonee as gloyr dty phobble Israel. |
| Maori | Hei whakamarama e kite ai nga tauiwi, hei kororia hoki mo tau iwi, mo Iharaira. |
| Norwegian | et lys til åpenbarelse for hedningene, og en herlighet for ditt folk Israel. |
| Rumanian | lumina care sq lumineze neamurile, wi slava poporului Tqu Israel.`` |
| Shuar | Israer-shuarcha ainia nu Tsáapninium wekasarat tusa akuptukmaiti ju Uchi. Tura Israer-shuar Aminiuram ájinia nuna Ashí aents shiir Enentáimtikrartí tusam ju Uchi akuptukmaitji. Nuna Wáinkian shiir Enentáimsan Jákatniuitjai." |
| Swahili | Mwanga utakaowaangazia watu wa mataifa, na utukufu kwa watu wako Israeli." |
| Swedish | ett ljus som skall uppenbaras för hedningarna, och en härlighet som skall givas åt ditt folk Israel." |
| Uma | Topetolo' toei, hewa baja to mponotohi nono tauna to bela-ra muli Israel. Pai' -i mpokeni karabilaa' hi kai' muli Israel to nupobagia." |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "enlighten": enlightened, enlightening, enlightenment, enlightenments, enlightens. (additional references) | |
Words containing "enlighten": unenlightened, unenlightening. (additional references) | |
| |
"Enlighten" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Ansichten, enligten, inlightned. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "enlighten" (pronounced enlī"tun) |
| 5 | -l ī" t u n | lighten. |
| 4 | -ī" t u n | brighten, frighten, heighten, tighten, Titan, Triton, whiten. |
| 3 | -t u n | fatten, actin, badminton, batten, beaten, begotten, biotin, bitten, Boston, boughten, Bouton, bulletin, Burton, button, Canton, capstan, captain, carton, certain, charlatan, chieftain, clandestine, cosmopolitan, cotton, craton, curtain, Dalton, dentin, dishearten, eaten, exoskeleton, flatten, forgotten, fountain, frostbitten, gelatin, gluten, gotten, guncotton, handwritten, hearten, highfalutin, intermountain, intestine, jetton, kindergarten, kitten, litten, lovastatin, Manhattan, marten, Martin, Melton, metropolitan, misbegotten, mitten, molten, mountain, mutton, nekton, Newton, overwritten, Parton, Patten, phytoplankton, piston, plankton, plantain, platen, pleasing, ponton, predestine, prolactin, puritan, rewritten, rotten, Samaritan, satin, Seton, Sexton, shorten, Singleton, skeleton, smitten, spartan, straighten, sultan, sweeten, tartan, teston, threaten, tungsten, typewritten, unbeaten, unbutton, uncertain, underwritten, unwritten, verboten, wanton, wheaten, written. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "e-e-g-h-i-l-n-n-t" | |
-1 letter: lengthen. | |
-2 letters: gentile, heeling, henting, lenient, lighten, theelin. | |
-3 letters: elegit, engine, gentil, gentle, length, lenten, linnet, teeing, theine, tingle. | |
-4 letters: eight, elint, elite, genet, genie, gleet, glint, hinge, ingle, inlet, legit, lethe, liege, light, linen, lithe, neigh, night, ninth, tenge, thegn, thein, thine, thing, tinge. | |
-5 letters: elhi, gelt, gene, gent, ghee, gien, gilt, glee, glen. | |
| Words containing the letters "e-e-g-h-i-l-n-n-t" | |
+1 letter: enlightens. | |
+2 letters: enlightened, lengthening, lengthiness, telephoning. | |
+3 letters: enlightening, hearteningly. | |
+4 letters: enlightenment, lengthinesses, threateningly, unenlightened. | |
+5 letters: encephalitogen, enlightenments, heartrendingly, knightlinesses, unenlightening. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Images: Digital Art 8. Quotations: Familiar | 9. Quotations: Fiction 10. Quotations: Spoken 11. Usage Frequency 12. Names: Derived from | 13. Names: Company Usage 14. Expressions 15. Expressions: Internet 16. Translations: Modern | 17. Translations: Ancient 18. Bible Trace 19. Derivations 20. Rhymes | 21. Anagrams 22. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
