enlighten, v.
(ɛnˈlaɪtən)
Forms: α. 6– enlighten. β. 4 inliȝten, 6–8 inlighten, (7 illighten).
[f. en-1 + light n. + -en5: see en- prefix1 2 b.
(As in many vbs. with the same prefix and suffix, the precise mode of formation is doubtful. Possibly inlighten (14th c.: see sense 4) was a secondary form of inlight (see prec.); formation on in-, en-1 + lighten v. is also possible. Cf. alighten.)]
† 1. trans. To put light into, make luminous.
| 1587 Golding De Mornay i. 1 Which should take vpon them to enlighten the Sunne w{supt} a Candle. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xiii. lxxviii. (1612) 323 One Sunne inlighteneth euery Light. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. 350 Thou rollest round the Heavens, enlightnest the Sun. a 1763 Byrom Thanksg. Hymn Wks. (1810) 254 And the Moon is enlighten'd to govern the night. |
† b. To light, set light to (a lamp, a combustible). Obs.
| 1613–16 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iii, Now had..all the lamps of heav'n inlightned bin. a 1634 Chapman Revenge Hon. Wks. 1873 III. 322, I ere long enlightened by my anger Shall be my own pile and consume to ashes. |
2. To shed light upon, illuminate (an object, scene, etc.); to give light to (persons). Also absol. Now chiefly poet. or rhetorical.
| 1611 Bible Ps. xcvii. 4 His lightnings inlightned the world. 1635 Swan Spec. M. iii. §2 (1643) 48 The element of fire..whose act and qualitie is to enlighten. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) II. 372 Vital treasures which inlighten and invigorate the surrounding worlds. 1761 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 109 Ranelagh..enlightened with a thousand golden lamps. 1784 Cowper Task i. 348 Shadow and sunshine..darkning and enlightning..ev'ry spot. 1831 Brewster Newton (1855) I. iv. 80 The sun..enlightened some such clouds near him. 1842 Longfellow Sp. Stud. ii. x, Thou moon..all night long enlighten my sweet lady-love! 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) II. ii. iii. 162 What fiery marvel the billows enlightens. |
† b. fig. To throw light upon, elucidate (a subject). Obs.
| 1587 Golding De Mornay xxxi. 505 Which end of the Law..is greatly inlightened vnto vs by the comming of our Lord. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 464 The difference of Regions do very much enlighten the discription or history of Sheep. 1694 R. Burthogge Reason 150 This Discourse..will seem a little Mysterious; and, therefore, to Inlighten it, etc. 1738 J. Keill Anim. Œcon. 54 By whose bright Genius..we see the Theory of Medicine enlightened and illustrated. |
† 3. a. To light, give light to (a room or building) by lamps, etc., or by windows. b. To light (a district, town, etc.); to furnish with lighting apparatus. Obs.
| 1645 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 179 Enlightened with 44 apertures or windows, artificially disposed. 1706 Lond. Gaz. No. 4292/3 Letters Patents for Enlightening the Suburbs of London..by new invented Lights. 1737 in Picton L'pool. Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 142 An Act..for enlightening round the Dock. 1768 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 73/1 The bill for enlightening..the parish of St. Mary le bone in the county of Middlesex. 1773 Noorthouck Hist. Lond. 599 The body is enlightened by a single series of large gothic windows. 1817 Hugham Walks through London 292 A plain brick building, well enlightened. |
† 4. In Biblical phrase: To remove dimness or blindness from (the eyes, and fig. the heart). Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Ephes. i. 18 The yȝen of ȝoure herte inliȝtened. c 1535 Fisher Wks. (1883) 439 He must beseche our sauiour Christ to enlighten his harte by clere faith. 1611 Bible 1 Sam. xiv. 29 See..how mine eyes haue beene enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honie. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Mark x. 52 He stood still, he called him, and enlightened his eyes. |
5. fig. To supply with intellectual light; to impart knowledge or wisdom to; to instruct. In mod. use often humorously in trivial sense: To inform, remove (one's) ignorance of something.
| 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 115 Reveale To Adam what shall come..As I shall thee enlighten. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 419 ¶5 Before the World was enlightened by Learning and Philosophy. 1763 Johnson Ascham Wks. IV. 621 To inlighten their minds, and to form their manners. 1832 H. Martineau Demerara ii. 28 As much as you please in enlightening those who are unaware of them. 1863 Fr. Kemble Resid. Georgia 9 The moment they [slaves] are in any degree enlightened, they become unhappy. 1884 Manch. Exam. 2 May 4/7 The letter which follows his own..will enlighten him on this point. |
b. In religious use: To supply with spiritual light.
| 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 517 Blasphemie against the Sonne of man is committed of the ignorant, which are not yet inlightned. 1611 Bible Pref. 5 (The Seuentie) were..enlightened with propheticall grace. 1644 Jus. Pop. 4 When Civilitie began to be illightned by Christianitie. 1650 Baxter Saints' R. iv. iv. (1662) 677 That heavenly Light, wherewith your own souls were never illightened. 1877 Mozley Univ. Serm. vi. 141 Outward nature cannot of itself enlighten man's conscience. |
† 6. Contextually: To revive, exhilarate. (Cf. lighten, brighten, in similar connexion.) Obs.
| 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 497 He [Satan] ended, and his words thir drooping chere Enlightn'd. |