Embrighten

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɛmˈbɹaɪtə̆n/

Definitions

1. To make something bright or full of light, adding vibrancy to its appearance
2. To infuse brightness or clarity into an object or environment, enhancing its visual appeal
3. To illuminate or enhance the brilliance of a place or thing, making it more radiant or cheerful

Etymology: "Embrighten" is a plain formation built from the adjective "bright" with two affixes added at once: the prefix "em-" (a variant of "en-", which turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to put into" or "to make") and the suffix "-en", which also makes verbs from adjectives, as in "widen" or "soften." The Oxford English Dictionary notes that both were applied to "bright" in a single step, so the verb did not arise by first forming "brighten" and then adding a prefix, or the other way round. The result is a word that means roughly "to make bright," which is also what "brighten" already means. The prefix adds a slightly more deliberate or literary flavour, which explains why "embrighten" tends to appear in poetic or formal writing rather than everyday speech. The meaning is the same; the difference lies in the shape of the word.

Synonyms: illuminate, enlighten, brighten

Antonyms: darken, dull