1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. ii. f. 14 To whome the Holy ghost by his enlightening [L. Spiritus Sanctus sua illuminatione; Fr. par l'illumination du Sainct Esprit] shal make a newe minde.

1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. v. 124 Whose new inlightning will be quench'd with teares.

1657 R. Austen Spirituall Use of Orchard (new ed.) 170 Counsells, inlightnings..all is in vaine to them.

1665 G. Wither Medit. upon Lords Prayer 67 My Rush-candle may perhaps occasion the enlightning of many Torches hereafter.

1722 T. Johnson Rector Corrected iv. 66 Their great Neglect of the inward Work, Enlightenings, and Discoveries of the Spirit of Truth.

1775 J. W. Fletcher Zelotes & Honestus Reconciled (ed. 2) ii. 201 Peter's faith, I say, like the smoking flax, caught again the flame of truth and love, and shone to the enlightening of thousands.

1858 Jrnl. Statist. Soc. London 21 459 All our attention is directed to the enlightening of the public mind.

1897 Biblical World 10 197 The Servant of Jehovah will have for the crowning glory of his mission the enlightening of the heathen world.

1916 Harvard Law Rev. 29 799 This pamphlet has for its chief purpose the enlightening of foreigners as to the treaty-making power of the United States.

1992 M. D. Saulsbury in B. Bleidt Multicultural Pharmaceut. Educ. 139 Many Black students are not able to experience a variety of cultural and social enlightenings of their non-Black schoolmates.

1998 N.Y. Times 20 Sept. 86/3 At one time, bold long-form programs..demonstrated the networks' mission of enlightening as well as entertaining.

1574 St. Avstens Manuell in Certaine Prayers S. Augustines Medit. sig. D.iiij^v Where Gods souereine goodnesse is seene, & his inlightening light is glorified of the Saints.

1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. Pref. 2 The supreme inlightning assistance.

1678 J. Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 101 'Twas a Crime to taste th' inlightning Tree.

1707 G. Bull Corruptions Church Rome (ed. 2) 11 He seems to have thought the enlightening Grace of the Holy Ghost always to accompany a General Council of Bishops, and to preserve them from Error.

1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. x. 236 Where sets The all enlight'ning sun.

1825 S. T. Coleridge Aids Refl. 5 This seeing light, this enlightening eye, is Reflection.

1861 A. Barnes Notes Epist. Hebrews 133/1 The expression..might include..the forgiveness of sins, the enlightening, renewing, and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, or any one of the graces which that spirit imparts.

1936 Discovery Sept. 299/2 An interesting and enlightening volume.

1970 P. Anderson Tau Zero (1973) 53 And this world appeared to be so terrestroid that the strangenesses it must hold would be yet the more vivid and enlightening.

2003 Art Q. Spring 55/1 All were united in their mission to save great works of art for the nation, inspired by a Ruskinian sense of the importance of great art in public collections as a civilising and enlightening influence.

1905 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Jrnl.-Gaz. 27 Oct. 1/5 Mr Hosey, who spoke enlighteningly on the water works, gas and electric light questions.

2000 Church Times 7 Apr. 32/4 The text (not too enlighteningly translated) is by the Swiss Romantic Conrad Meyer.