enlight

Enlight is a verb in English that means to give someone greater knowledge, understanding, or insight; to illuminate a point, idea, or situation, often in a moral or intellectual sense. The modern and far more common form is enlighten, while enlight is generally regarded as archaic, literary, or stylistic and is rarely used in contemporary prose.

Usage and form: Enlight is transitive and typically takes a direct object or a prepositional phrase, as in "The lecturer enlightened the class about the risks involved" or "The brochure enlightened readers about the program." In current usage, enlighten is preferred in standard writing, with enlight appearing mainly for historical resonance, quotation, or rhetorical effect.

Origin and register: The form enlight is a shortened, older variant of enlighten. It appears in older or more ceremonial texts but is uncommon today. Because it can feel archaic, writers often replace it with enlighten, illuminate, or educate to avoid ambiguity.

Related terms and concepts: Enlighten, enlightenment, and enlightened are closely related forms. Enlightenment refers to the act or state of gaining insight, or to a historical era associated with philosophical advances. The adjective enlightened describes someone who is well informed or morally aware, while enlightening describes something that provides new understanding.

See also: Enlightenment; illumination; education; learning.