enlightened \-tənd\adjective Etymology: from past participle of enlighten : freed from ignorance and misinformation < an enlightened people > often: based on full comprehension of the problems involved < an enlightened judgment > • en·light·ened·ly\-tən(ə̇)dlē, -li\adverb • en·light·ened·ness\-tənə̇dnə̇s, -tən(d)nə̇s\noun-es