enlightening

Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.

en·light·en

(ĕn-līt′n)

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·light′en·er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

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

enlightening

adjective

1. Promoting culture:

civilizing, cultural, edifying, humanizing, refining.

2. Serving to educate or inform:

edifying, educational, educative, illuminative, informative, instructional, instructive.

Translations

illuminante istruttivo

enlightening

[ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ] ADJ → informativo; [experience etc] → instructivo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

enlightening

[ɪnˈlaɪt^ənɪŋ] adj [experience, conversation, book] → instructif/ive

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

enlightening

adj → aufschlussreich

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

enlightening

[ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ] adj → istruttivo/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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.

View in context

Alana Maxwell and Brenda Murray, representatives of Bumblebee Babies, gave an "enlightening talk"to members of the Coatbridge, Airdrie and Monklands Rotary Club.

No sting in the tail as charity cashes in

Ian Harris Radford Enlightening report over City sale JUST a thank you for Enda Mullen's very enlightening report on the recent Bryan Richardson interview to the BBC.

Unlikely to celebrate when we leave EU; LETTERS Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@coventrytelegraph.net Twitter: @coventrytelegraph Facebook: facebook.com/coventrytelegraph Post: Coventry Telegraph, Leicester Row, Canal Basin, Coventry, CV1 4LY

'I'll file a counterpart,' Sotto said in a text message on Tuesday, noting that DOF Undersecretary Karl Chua's explanation of the measure's benefits were 'very enlightening.'

Sotto bats for TRAIN 2: DOF's argument 'very enlightening'

Dubai: The National Anti-Doping Committee (Nado) and the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) organised a course for enlightening athletes from the country on the various anti-doping programmes.

Drug committee and UAE NOC conduct workshop

Perhaps this could be the focus of a more enlightening future article by your editor.

Searching for Holy Grail of education? Views of Wales

At the meeting, the scholars briefed Saleh on efforts and activities made by scholars in order to spread moderation and to carry out religious and national duty in enlightening people, especially youth, about their religion and immunizing them from all negative phenomena and behaviors that harm them and the country.

Saleh affirms State support for scholars' efforts

09, 2010, SPA -- Security enlightening TV messages, produced by the Saudi Public Security, today won first place at the Security Films Contest, organized by the Secretariat General of the Arab Interior Council.