benighted

Adjective

benighted (comparative more benighted, superlative most benighted)

1. (obsolete, poetic) Overtaken by night; especially of a traveller, etc.: caught out by oncoming night before reaching one's destination.
   • The Porter anſwered, This Man is in a Journey from the City of Deſtruction to Mount Zion, but being weary, and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to night; ſo I told him I would call for thee, who after diſcourſe had with him, mayeſt do as ſeemeth thee good, even according to the Law of...1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, pages 51–52
   • The Moon (that roves like thee) ſhou'd fail, / The Stars benighted prove, / The Sun (that burns like me) ſhou'd ceaſe / To ſhine, ere thou to love?1739, “Song XVIII. With Tuneful Pipe, and Merry Glee.”, in The Cupid. A Collection of Love Songs, in Twelve Parts. Suited to Twelve Different Sorts of Lovers. […], 2nd edition, London: Printed for J....

   Synonyms:

   belated

2. (obsolete) Plunged into darkness.
   • Rob the Spheare of lines vnited, / Make a ſuddaine voide in nature: / Force the day to be benighted, / Reaue the cauſe of time and creature.1600, “The Sheepheards Sorrow, Being Disdained in Loue”, in Englands Helicon, London: Printed by I. R[oberts] for Iohn Flasket, […], →OCLC
   • Still we wait for thine Appearing, / Life and Joy thy Beams impart, / Chaſing all our Fears, and chearing / Ev'ry poor benighted Heart: […]1779, “Hymn LXXVII. Epiphany. Isaiah ix. 2.”, in [Martin] Madan, compiler, A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, Extracted from Various Authors, […], 9th edition, London: Printed by Henry Cock; […]...
3. (figuratively) Lacking education or knowledge; unenlightened; also, lacking morality; immoral, unscrupulous.
   • [I]t would be difficult to name any writers who have contributed so much to promote the progress of civilization as "these illustrious authors—these friends of human nature—these kind instructers of human errors and frailties—these benevolent spirits, who held up the torch of science to a benighted...a. 1800, Henry Wheaton, quoting Patrick Henry, “Sketch of the History of International Law”, in Elements of International Law: With a Sketch of the History of the Science, Philadelphia, Pa.: Carey...
   • Where art thou, poor benighted Traveller! / The Stars will light thee; tho' the Moon ſhould fail. / Where art Thou, more benighted! more aſtray! / In Ways immoral? The Stars call thee back; / And, if obey'd their Counſel, ſet thee right.1745, [Edward Young], “Night the Ninth and Last. The Consolation. Containing, among Other Things, I. A Moral Survey of the Nocturnal Heavens. II. A Night-Address to the Deity. […]”, in The Complaint...

   Synonyms:

   belated

   Antonyms:

   unbenighted

4. (figuratively, obsolete) Difficult to understand; abstruse, obscure.
   • [O]thers, held very good men, are at a dead ſtand, not knovving vvhat to doe or ſay; and are therefore called Seekers, looking for nevv Nuntio's from Chriſt, to aſſoil theſe benighted queſtions, and to give nevv Orders for nevv Churches.1647, Theodore de la Guard [pseudonym; Nathaniel Ward], The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America. […], London: […] J[ohn] D[ever] & R[obert] I[bbitson] for Stephen Bowtell, […], →OCLC, page 18