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enlightening

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.07 sec.
en·light·en  (n-ltn)
tr.v. en·light·ened, en·light·en·ing, en·light·ens
1. To give spiritual or intellectual insight to: "Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppression of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day" Thomas Jefferson.
2. To give information to; inform or instruct.
en·lighten·er n.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.enlightening - tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance; "an enlightening glimpse of government in action"; "an illuminating lecture"
illuminating, informative
unenlightening, unilluminating - failing to inform or clarify; "an unenlightening comment"
2.enlightening - enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement; "the paintings in the church served an edifying purpose even for those who could not read"
edifying
Translations
Spanish enlightening [ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ] adj → informativo, instructivo
French enlightening [ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ] adj → instructif/ive, révélateur/trice
German enlightening [ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ] enlighten adj → aufschlussreich
Italian enlightening [ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ] adj → istruttivo/a
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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
But like Czar Peter content to toil in the shipyards of foreign cities, Queequeg disdained no seeming ignominy, if thereby he might happily gain the power of enlightening his untutored countrymen.
Moby Dick I-LXVII by Melville, Herman View in context
The very heights and shapes and materials of these hills-- nay, even of the wide plain that lies between us and the sea--have in themselves the materials of enlightening books.
The Lair of the White Worm by Stoker, Bram View in context
He proved to be as incapable of enlightening me as Mrs.
The Moonstone by Collins, Wilkie View in context
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