different between enlighten vs civilise

English

Etymology

Formerly also inlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, inlightnen, a hybrid formed from inlighten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), from Old English inl?htan, onl?htan, enl?hten (“to enlighten, illuminate, give light to, give sight to”) and lightnen (“to enlighten, illuminate”) (equivalent to light +? -en). Cognate with Dutch inlichten (“to enlighten, inform”), Old High German inliuhten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), Gothic ???????????????????????????????????????? (inliuhtjan, “to enlighten, illuminate”). More at inlight, -en.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?la?t?n/, /?n?la?t?n/, /?n?la?t?n/
• Rhymes: -a?t?n
• Hyphenation: en?light?en

Verb

enlighten (third-person singular simple present enlightens, present participle enlightening, simple past and past participle enlightened)

1. (transitive) To supply with light.

   Synonyms: illumine, illuminate; see also Thesaurus:illuminate

   Antonym: endarken

2. (transitive, figuratively) To make something clear to (someone); to give knowledge or understanding to.

   Synonyms: apprise, notify, inform

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• civilize

Etymology

civil +? -ise

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?v?la?z/
• Hyphenation: civ?il?ise

Verb

civilise (third-person singular simple present civilises, present participle civilising, simple past and past participle civilised)

1. To educate or enlighten a person or people to a perceived higher standard of behaviour.
2. To introduce or impose the standards of one civilisation upon another civilization, group or person, arguably with the intent of achieving a perceived higher standard of behavior.
3. To bring from a state of savagery to an educated or refined state.

Related terms

• civilisation, civilization
• civil
• city
• civitas
• civilian
• citizen

Translations

French

Verb

civilise

1. first-person singular present indicative of civiliser
2. third-person singular present indicative of civiliser
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of civiliser
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of civiliser
5. second-person singular imperative of civiliser