English Explanatory Dictionary

enlightenment

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or instructed.
  2. A concept in spirituality, philosophy and psychology related to achieving clarity of perception, reason and knowledge.
name
  1. A 17th- and 18th-century European intellectual and cultural movement emphasizing rationalism. The period during which it flourished is called the Age of Enlightenment or Age of Reason.
  2. Synonym of Age of Enlightenment.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/ /ənˈlaɪtənmənt/ /-laɪtmənt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-enlightenment.wav

Word forms

enlightenment enlightenments enlightment the Enlightenment

Etymology

From enlighten + -ment.

Synonyms

epiphany peace that passeth understanding bodhi nirvana satori zen European Enlightenment Euro-American Enlightenment Western Enlightenment Aufklärung Age of Enlightenment

Related words

empiricism humanism science

Derived words

Enlightenment pseudoenlightenment Age of Enlightenment Dark Enlightenment post-Enlightenment
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