éclairent

Éclairent is the third-person plural present indicative form of the French verb éclairer. Éclairer means to light up physically or to illuminate in a broader sense; it can also mean to clarify or bring understanding to a matter. Accordingly, éclairent can be used with subjects such as people, lights, or abstract factors.

In literal use, it describes light sources: Les projecteurs éclairent la scène. In figurative use, it indicates the act of shedding light on something, revealing information or insights: Les résultats éclairent les mécanismes du phénomène; Les témoignages éclairent l’enjeu. The term is common in scientific, journalistic, and academic writing to express that evidence clarifies a topic.

Étymology and form: éclairer comes from clair meaning clear, with the prefix é-, and éclairent is the 3rd person plural present tense form: ils/elles éclairent. Other conjugations follow regular -er patterns: j'éclaire, tu éclaires, il éclaire, nous éclairons, vous éclairez, ils éclairent. The past participle éclairé is used in compound tenses.