Definition of benighted

The word "benighted" originated from medieval English and refers to a Traveler who is lost or stranded in the mountains during the nighttime when it is pitch dark. The word "benighted" is a combination of the Old English prefix "be-" which means "by" or "in" and the Old English word "niht" which means "night". Thus, "benighted" literally means "in the night" or "by night", implying someone who is stranded or lost during the nighttime when visibility is low. Over time, the meaning of "benighted" has expanded to describe someone who is ignorant, unenlightened, or lacking in knowledge or understanding, as if they are wandering aimlessly in the dark without guidance or enlightenment.