What does あえて mean?


I would like to know what does あえて exactly mean: to dare to do sth (like
思い切って)? On purpose (like わざと)? Another meaning?

In jisho.org, seeing the definitions and example sentences, it supposedly
means 1. to dare to / 2, on purpose, but on the Internet I've found sentences
where these two meanings don't match, like this one: 「ごめん、あえて終電逃した。」

If translated:

"I'm sorry, I dared to lose the last train."

Or

"I'm sorry, I lost the last train on purpose."

It doesn't make much sense to me.

Or for example, in this another sentence: あえて電気をつけるほどの暗さではない。(It is not so
dark as to turn on the lights.), what function has あえて?

Could you please tell me how many meanings has あえて and give me an example
sentence for each meaning?

Thank you so much in advance for your help!




The most common meaning of あえて is 'dare to' whereby someone expresses some
kind of desire while acknowledging there could be some adverse consequences.

> 部長は **あえて** 社長に反対意見を述べた。The department head dared to express his opposing
> view to the company president.

It can also have a nuance of 'force myself to do something'. Your example is
in line with that meaning.

> **あえて** 電気をつけるほどの暗さではない。It's not so dark as to have to bother myself with
> turning on the light.

As for あえて終電逃した, the context is needed. Is it someone defying an order to get
the last train, for example? Maybe it's an apologetic husband who 'dared' to
stay out drinking late or something. It depends on what came before it.




The most common meaning of あえて is 'dare to' whereby someone expresses some
kind of desire while acknowledging there could be some adverse consequences.

> 部長は **あえて** 社長に反対意見を述べた。The department head dared to express his opposing
> view to the company president.

It can also have a nuance of 'force myself to do something'. Your example is
in line with that meaning.

> **あえて** 電気をつけるほどの暗さではない。It's not so dark as to have to bother myself with
> turning on the light.

As for あえて終電逃した, the context is needed. Is it someone defying an order to get
the last train, for example? Maybe it's an apologetic husband who 'dared' to
stay out drinking late or something. It depends on what came before it.

