factually well-informed, tolerant of alternative opinions, and guided by rational thought: an enlightened administration, enlightened self-interest privy to or claiming a sense of spiritual or religious revelation of truth: the search for an enlightened spiritual master
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
en•light•en /ɛnˈlaɪtən/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to give intellectual understanding or knowledge to;
instruct:to enlighten students.
en•light•en
(en līt′n),USA pronunciation v.t.
en•light′ened•ly, adv.
en•light′ened•ness, n.
en•light′en•er, n.
en•light′en•ing•ly, adv.
- to give intellectual or spiritual light to;
instruct;
impart knowledge to:We hope the results of our research will enlighten our colleagues. - [Archaic.]to shed light upon.
- Middle English enli(g)htenen. See en-1, lighten1 1350–1400
en•light′ened•ness, n.
en•light′en•er, n.
en•light′en•ing•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged illumine, edify, teach, inform.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged mystify, confuse, perplex, puzzle.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
to give information or understanding to; instruct; edify to free from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition to give spiritual or religious revelation to to shed light on
'enlightened' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Brahman
- Fielding
- Maskil
- Meiji
- advanced
- cakravartin
- cultural
- cultured
- elucidate
- enlightenment
- esoteric
- illuminate
- illuminati
- judicious
- luminosity
- luminous
- philosopher king
- progressive
- rational
- understanding
- verligte
- well-enlightened