verlicht

Verlicht is a Dutch adjective meaning illuminated or enlightened. It describes something lit by light, such as a room, street, or sign: De kamer is verlicht. It can also be used metaphorically to describe people or ideas that are intellectually or spiritually enlightened, for example verlichte ideeën or iemand die zich verlicht voelt.

Etymology and grammar: verlicht comes from ver- plus lichten (to light). It is the past participle of verlichten and functions as an adjective or in compound tenses. The form agrees with the noun it describes, as in een verlichte kamer, de straat is verlicht.

Historical context: In Dutch, De Verlichting (capital V) refers to the Enlightenment, an 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights. The adjective verlicht is used to describe aspects associated with that era, such as verlichte despoten (enlightened despots) or verlichte ideeën in beleid en samenleving.

Related terms and distinctions: Verlichting is the noun meaning both light in a physical sense and the historical Enlightenment. Verlichten is the verb meaning to illuminate, to lighten, or to clarify/explain. Verlichte can describe something that is illuminated (de muren zijn verlichte) or metaphorically describe a person or idea that has achieved enlightenment (een verlichte kijk op het leven). Keep in mind that context determines whether verlicht refers to physical lighting or metaphorical insight.