éclaircissement

American  

[ey-kler-sees-mahn] / eɪ klɛr sisˈmɑ̃ /

noun

French.

plural

éclaircissements

1. clarification; explanation.

2. (initial capital letter) the Enlightenment.

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Explanation

Eclaircissement is clarifying something that initially seemed impossible to understand. Once your teacher sits down and patiently explains how to solve an equation, an eclaircissement can finally take place. When something obscure or incomprehensible is cleared up for you, that's eclaircissement. It's a bit like enlightenment, producing a significant change in the way you perceive or understand. You might experience an eclaircissement about your mysterious and cranky neighbor when you see him tenderly caring for his pet pigeons; you understand him more clearly. The French éclaircissement comes from the verb éclaircir, "to clear up," and a Latin root meaning "clear."

Example Sentences

Now the coincidence of this meeting jolts him into an éclaircissement: "You're slow," said Loki, "but you get there in the end."

From The Guardian • Aug. 19, 2011

Seeing Emily in tears, and my father’s letter in her hand, he knew that an éclaircissement had taken place, or was in progress.

From Frank Mildmay Or, the Naval Officer by Marryat, Frederick

But those first years of their married life had not passed without a serious, and to her completely decisive, éclaircissement.

From The Pilot and his Wife by Lie, Jonas Lauritz Idemil

An éclaircissement, accompanied by mortifying circumstances, was not, however, long delayed.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 459 Volume 18, New Series, October 16, 1852 by Chambers, Robert

This éclaircissement, as to dates, is not out of place, inasmuch as one of our respected historians, Dr. Hy.

From Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present by Le Moine, J. M. (James MacPherson), Sir