enlighten C2+ Topic:Education & Learning US /ɪnˈlaɪtən/ UK /ɪnˈlaɪtən/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to give greater knowledge or understanding to someone Perhaps you could enlighten me as to why the meeting was canceled. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to give greater knowledge... informeducateilluminateinstructedifyappriseteach ↔ Opposites confusemisleadobscuremystify Word family Derived forms enlightenedenlightenmentenlightener Related forms lightlightenenlightenment Etymology AI details From Middle English enlightenen, from en- (intensive) + lighten, from Old English lihtan ('to shine, give light'), from leoht ('light'). lihtan Old English leoht Old English *leuk- Proto-Indo-European View etymology graph -> Topics Education & Learning Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # enlighten **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ɪnˈlaɪtən/ **IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈlaɪtən/ ## Meanings 1. to give greater knowledge or understanding to someone ## Examples - Perhaps you could enlighten me as to why the meeting was canceled. ## Synonyms - inform - educate - illuminate - instruct - edify - apprise - teach ## Antonyms - confuse - mislead - obscure - mystify ## Derived Forms - enlightened - enlightenment - enlightener ## Related Forms - light - lighten - enlightenment ## Roots and Affixes - Root: lihtan - Root: leoht - Root: *leuk- ## Etymology From Middle English enlightenen, from en- (intensive) + lighten, from Old English lihtan ('to shine, give light'), from leoht ('light'). ## AI Etymology Enlighten is from Middle English enlightenen, from en- (intensive) + lighten, from Old English lihtan ('to shine, give light'), from leoht ('light'). In present-day use, it means to give greater knowledge or understanding to someone. Derived formations include enlightened, enlightenment, and enlightener. Related vocabulary includes light, lighten, and enlightenment. ## Topics - Education & Learning - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown