éclairage, n.m., lighting, illumination. — au gaz; gas-lighting, gas-light. Gaz d’—; illuminating gas, ethylene.
éclaircie, n.f., glade, vista; opening, rift (in clouds, etc.).
éclaircir, v.a., to clear, to brighten; to clarify; to thin, to make thin; to clear up, to elucidate, to illustrate, to explain, to throw a light on. Cet auteur éclaircit bien des vérités; that author illustrates many truths. — une difficulté; to clear up a difficulty. Le temps éclaircit la vérité; time brings truth to light. — quelqu’un; to enlighten any one, to instruct, to inform, any one. Il faut l’en —; he must be informed of it. — une peau; to gloss a skin.
s’éclaircir, v.r., to clear, to brighten, to become clear or bright, to grow light; to be solved, to be explained, to be elucidated. Le temps s’éclaircit; the weather is clearing up. Son teint commence à s’—; her complexion is becoming clearer. S’— d’une chose; to inquire about or into a business, to inform one’s self about anything, to clear up a matter. Il faut s’— sur cette affaire; that affair must be cleared up.
éclaircissement (-sis-mān), n.m., clearing up, explanation, illustration, elucidation, solution; hint, light, discovery, insight. Avoir un —, en venir à un — avec quelqu’un; to have an explanation, to come to an explanation, with any one.
éclaire, n.f., (bot.) celandine. La grande —; swallow-wort, tetter-wort. La petite —; crowfoot, pilewort.
éclairé, -e, adj. and part., lighted; enlightened; judicious; intelligent, clear-sighted.
éclairer, v.a., to light, to give light to; to illuminate; to carry a light before, to show a light to; to enlighten, to instruct; to observe, to watch; (milit.) to reconnoiter; (paint.) to throw light in, to put light in. Eclairez monsieur; show a light to the gentleman. Les bonnes lectures éclairent l’esprit; the reading of good books enlightens the mind. Il faut l’— de près; he must be watched closely. — une question; to throw light upon a question.
s’éclairer, v.r., to become enlightened; to instruct, enlighten, one another.