Where does “enlightening” come from?
Enlightening derives from English enlighten, which combines the prefix en- with lighten, meaning to make light or clear.
enlightening (English): present participle of enlighten
Definitions
- present participle of enlighten
Ancestry of “enlightening”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | enlighten | To supply with light; To make something clear to... |
| 2 | Middle English | enlightenen | — |
| 3 | Old English | inlīhtan | to illuminate, enlighten |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | inliuhtijaną | to enlighten, illumine |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | liuhtijaną | to give light, shine |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |