enlightenment

Everyday

1. The state of understanding something clearly after it was puzzling; gaining knowledge. tree →
2. (history) The Enlightenment: a time in Europe in the 1700s when thinkers said people should use reason, science and evidence and question old ideas. tree →
3. (religion) In Buddhism, a state of perfect understanding and peace that Buddhists believe the Buddha reached. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons the Enlightenment is the age of scientists and thinkers like Isaac Newton, Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin, and of ideas about rights and freedom. In everyday speech it means finally understanding. Phrases: «the Age of Enlightenment», «seek enlightenment», «for your enlightenment» (humorous).

Examples

• After the teacher's diagram, I felt a moment of enlightenment. tree →
• The Enlightenment was a time of new ideas about science and freedom. tree →
• Thinkers of the Enlightenment said people should question kings. tree →
• Buddhists believe the Buddha reached enlightenment under a tree. tree →
• The library was built for the enlightenment of the townspeople. tree →
• For your enlightenment, the answer is on page twelve. tree →
• Many ideas in the American Declaration of Independence came from the Enlightenment. tree →

Note

Uncountable. The history period is written with a capital E and «the»: «the Enlightenment». Verb «enlighten» (to explain, to make clear); adjective «enlightened». It has nothing to do with lamps or light bulbs, though it comes from «light» as in «seeing clearly».