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Word a Day

enlighten

verb · /ɛnˈlaɪtən/ · Level 3 · Advanced

What does enlighten mean?

enlighten (verb): make understand.

Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.

How do you use enlighten in a sentence?

How do you pronounce enlighten?

/ɛnˈlaɪtən/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.

Where does enlighten come from?

Formerly also inlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, inlightnen, a hybrid formed from inlighten (“to enlighten, illuminate”).

Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Words related to enlighten

From Princeton WordNet 3.1.

Test yourself: do you know “enlighten”?

Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.

What does “enlighten” mean?

empty of liquid

Not quite: that's what drain means.

grow vigorously

Not quite: that's what thrive means.

make understand

Right! That's what “enlighten” means.

form or compose

Not quite: that's what constitute means.

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