verligtheid, noun

Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, verligt, verligte enlightened (see verlig) + -heid -ness.
Especially in the context of politics: enlightenment; the state of being enlightened; open-mindedness or liberalism, especially in political and racial matters. Cf. verkramptheid.
1970 News/Check 15 May 9A reformist verligtheid implies a moving into a modern ethic, reflecting the new circumstances of all South Africa.
1972 Argus 10 Aug. 13The loudest message from the Cape National Party’s congress this week is that the party’s biggest enemy is not verligtheid, verkramptheid, sinister subversive forces or even the United Party. It is apathy.
1974 Sunday Times 6 Oct. 14The diehards wish to capitalise on Government verligtheid and encourage a rightwing backlash.
1986 Sunday Times 19 Oct. 30Succeeding, as he does, predecessors who were either alarmingly right-of-centre or simply bland, his energy, scholarship and verligtheid should help the church to catch up with the contemporary world.
1989 Weekly Mail 27 Oct. 1The future of mass protest and of government verligtheid could depend on Sunday afternoon’s ‘welcome home’ rally for the seven released African National Congress leaders.
enlightenment; the state of being enlightened; open-mindedness or liberalism, especially in political and racial matters.
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