enlightenment

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en·light·en·ment

(ĕn-līt′n-mənt)

a. The act or a means of enlightening.

b. The state of being enlightened.

2. Enlightenment A philosophical movement of the 1700s that emphasized the use of reason to scrutinize previously accepted doctrines and traditions and that brought about many humanitarian reforms. Used with the.

3. Buddhism & Hinduism A state in which the individual transcends desire and suffering and attains nirvana.

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.

enlightenment

(ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt)

1. the act or means of enlightening or the state of being enlightened

2. (Hinduism) Buddhism the awakening to ultimate truth by which man is freed from the endless cycle of personal reincarnations to which all men are otherwise subject

3. (Hinduism) Hinduism a state of transcendent divine experience represented by Vishnu: regarded as a goal of all religion

Enlightenment

(ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt)

(Philosophy) the Enlightenment an 18th-century philosophical movement stressing the importance of reason and the critical reappraisal of existing ideas and social institutions

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

en•light•en•ment

(ɛnˈlaɪt n mənt)

n.

1. the act of enlightening.

2. the state of being enlightened.

3. (usu. cap.) Buddhism, Hinduism. prajna.

4. the Enlightenment, a European philosophical movement of the l7th and 18th centuries, characterized by belief in the power of reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine.

[1660–70]

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Noun	1.	enlightenment - education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge education - knowledge acquired by learning and instruction; "it was clear that he had a very broad education" edification, sophistication - uplifting enlightenment satori - (Zen Buddhism) a state of sudden spiritual enlightenment unenlightenment - a lack of understanding
	2.	enlightenment - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness nirvana Hindooism, Hinduism - a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils Buddhism - the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth beatification, beatitude, blessedness - a state of supreme happiness
	3.	Enlightenment - a movement in Europe from about 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine; "the Enlightenment brought about many humanitarian reforms" Age of Reason reform movement - a movement intended to bring about social and humanitarian reforms

enlightenment

noun understanding, information, learning, education, teaching, knowledge, instruction, awareness, wisdom, insight, literacy, sophistication, comprehension, cultivation, refinement, open-mindedness, edification, broad-mindedness He'd set off for the East in search of spiritual enlightenment.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

enlightenment

noun

The condition of being informed spiritually:

edification, illumination.

Translations

تَنْوير، إسْتِنارَه

osvícení

indsigtoplysningvisdom

Aufklärung

aclaración

valaistuminenvalistus

éclaircissement

felvilágosodásmegvilágosodás

upplÿsing, fræîsla

illuminazione illuminismo

opplysning

просвещение просветление

osveta

razsvetljenstvo

aydınlatma

启发启蒙

enlightenment

[ɪnˈlaɪtnmənt] N

1. (= clarification) we need some enlightenment on this point → necesitamos una aclaración sobre este punto

2. (= tolerance) → progresismo m
sexual enlightenment → progresismo m sexual
the (Age of) Enlightenment → el Siglo de las Luces

3. (Rel) → iluminación f
spiritual enlightenment → iluminación f espiritual

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

enlightenment

[ɪnˈlaɪt^ənmənt] n

(= clarification, explanation) → éclaircissements mpl
to provide enlightenment → fournir des éclaircissements

(= understanding) → illumination f

(= progressiveness) → avancement m

(RELIGION) (in Buddhism) → illumination f
to attain enlightenment → atteindre l'illumination

(HISTORY) the Enlightenment → le Siècle des lumières

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

enlightenment

n → Aufklärung f; (spiritual) → Erleuchtung f; the Enlightenment → die Aufklärung; the age of Enlightenment → das Zeitalter der Aufklärung

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

enlightenment

[ɪnˈlaɪtnmənt] n (explanations) → chiarimenti mpl
the (Age of) Enlightenment (History) → l'Illuminismo

enlighten

(inˈlaitn) verb

to give more information to (a person). Will someone please enlighten me as to what is happening?

enˈlightened adjective

wise through knowledge; free from prejudice. an enlightened headmaster; an enlightened decision.

enˈlightenment noun

References in classic literature ?

You will perhaps also see in your further initiation a like method of enlightenment. Our Order imitates the ancient societies that explained their teaching by hieroglyphics.

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Could there be a fitter man to apply to for enlightenment in the darkness that had now gathered around me?

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She gazed around the room at the pictures and photographs hanging upon the wall, and discovered in some corner an old family album, which she examined with the keenest interest, appealing to Madame Lebrun for enlightenment concerning the many figures and faces which she discovered between its pages.

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The third draught that I craved from the fount of knowledge was enlightenment concerning the character known as A Man About Town.

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Directly after the doctor, who had taken up so much time, came the celebrated traveler, and Alexey Alexandrovitch, by means of the pamphlet he had only just finished reading and his previous acquaintance with the subject, impressed the traveler by the depth of his knowledge of the subject and the breadth and enlightenment of his view of it.

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In my doubt and perplexity, in my vague suspicion of something hidden which I was left to find by my own unaided efforts, I examined Miss Halcombe's looks and manner for enlightenment. Living in such intimacy as ours, no serious alteration could take place in any one of us which did not sympathetically affect the others.

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'When I find it, an enlightenment will surely be given.

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He put it aside with extreme satisfaction, and the barber went on, "These that come next are 'The Shepherd of Iberia,' 'Nymphs of Henares,' and 'The Enlightenment of Jealousy.'"

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There are many things on which we may seek--and perhaps find-- enlightenment. The more we know at the start, the more things which may come into our view will develop themselves."

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And so well did Nell profit by her instructions, and so apt was she to remember them, that by the time they had been shut up together for a couple of hours, she was in full possession of the history of the whole establishment, and perfectly competent to the enlightenment of visitors.

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I might indirectly assist the cause of enlightenment and propaganda.

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There is in him that union of head and heart, which is indispensable to an enlightenment of the heads and a winning of the hearts of others.