benighted

 
Pronunciation: /bɪˈnʌɪtɪd/

adjective

  • 1in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance: they saw themselves as bringers of culture to poor benighted peoples
  • 2overtaken by darkness: a storm developed and we were forced to wait benighted near the summit

Derivatives

benightedness

noun

Origin:

late 16th century (in benighted (sense 2)): past participle of archaic benight 'cover in the darkness of night, obscure' (see be-, night)

Spelling help

Remember that benighted is spelled ben- at the beginning (it is related to night, not knight).