enlighten

verb
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtn/
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtn/
(formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they enlighten
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtn/
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtn/
he / she / it enlightens
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnz/
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnz/
past simple enlightened
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnd/
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnd/
past participle enlightened
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnd/
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnd/
-ing form enlightening
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
🔊/ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
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  1. enlighten somebody to give somebody information so that they understand something better启发;开导;向…阐明
    • She didn't enlighten him about her background.她未向他讲明自己的出身背景。🔊🔊
    Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘make luminous’; formerly also as inlighten): in early use from Old English inlīhtan ‘to shine’; later from en-, in- (as an intensifier) + lighten ‘become brighter’ or the noun light.