different between enlighten vs affirm

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

Etymology

From Middle English affirmen, affermen, from Old French afermer, affermer, from Latin affirmare, adfirmare (“to present as fixed, aver, affirm”), from ad (“to”) + firmare (“to make firm”), from firmus (“firm”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??f?m/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??f??m/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m

Verb

affirm (third-person singular simple present affirms, present participle affirming, simple past and past participle affirmed)

1. To agree, verify or concur; to answer positively.

   She affirmed that she would go when I asked her.

2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true.
3. To support or encourage.

   They did everything they could to affirm the children's self-confidence.

4. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; especially (law) to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.

Synonyms

• validate

Antonyms

• disaffirm
• deny (of 1,2)
• repudiate (of 2)
• invalidate (of 4)

Related terms

• affirmation
• affirmative

Translations

See also

• affirmative action
• confirm

Further reading

• affirm in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• affirm in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• affirm at OneLook Dictionary Search