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单词 lighten
释义

† lightenn.

Forms: late Middle English leighten, late Middle English lyghtyn; Scottish 1700s–1800s lichten.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Perhaps also partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: lighten v.1; light v.2, -ing suffix1.
Etymology: < lighten v.1 Compare earlier lait n.1, light n.1 3c, lightning n. In later Scottish use perhaps alternatively formed < light v.2 + -ing suffix1.
Obsolete (Scottish in later use).
Lightning. Also: a flash of lightning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning
fireOE
lightinglOE
levininga1300
lightningc1300
lightc1325
thunderlightc1374
firelighta1400
laitinga1400
lighten?a1425
Jove's or God's branda1522
fulgur1563
thunder-shot1606
whirl-fire1606
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [noun] > lightning
fireOE
lightinglOE
levininga1300
levinc1300
lightningc1300
lightc1325
thunderlightc1374
firelighta1400
laitinga1400
lighten?a1425
Jove's or God's branda1522
fulgur1563
thunder-shot1606
whirl-fire1606
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 65 (MED) In somer es þer grete thundres and leightens [a1425 Titus leytes].
a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 2191 (MED) Hyt hys lyghtyn, thondyr, and rayne.
1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 12 Swift as the lichtens fly, Whan thunners crash the clouds aboon.
1860 J. Young Lays from Poorhouse 16 Forbye, the news o' ilka forin lan' Wi' lichten's speed, they say, is brocht tae han'.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).

lightenv.1

Brit. /ˈlʌɪtn/, U.S. /ˈlaɪtn/
Forms: Middle English leghten, Middle English leghtn- (inflected form), Middle English lightne, Middle English lighton (north-west midlands, in a late copy), Middle English lightyn, Middle English lightynn- (inflected form), Middle English liȝten, Middle English liȝtn- (inflected form), Middle English liȝtne, Middle English liȝtny (southern), Middle English liȝton (north-west midlands), Middle English liȝtten, Middle English lihtn- (inflected form), Middle English liten, Middle English lithne, Middle English lyghtene, Middle English lyghtyn, Middle English lyȝten, Middle English lyȝtn- (inflected form), Middle English lyȝtne, Middle English lyȝtten, Middle English lythne, Middle English–1600s lyghten, Middle English–1600s lyghtn- (inflected form), Middle English– lighten, Middle English– lightn- (inflected form), late Middle English ilitenyd (past participle), late Middle English jlyghnet (past participle), late Middle English leyȝtneþ (3rd singular present indicative, in sense 6a(a)), late Middle English litȝneth (3rd singular present indicative, perhaps transmission error), late Middle English lyghnyth (3rd singular present indicative), late Middle English lygnyd (past tense), 1500s lighthen, 1800s leetan (English regional (northern)), 1800s leeten (English regional (northern)); also Scottish pre-1700 lichn- (inflected form), pre-1700 lichten, pre-1700 lichtin, pre-1700 lichtn- (inflected form), pre-1700 lychn- (inflected form), pre-1700 lychten, pre-1700 lychtin, pre-1700 lychtn- (inflected form), pre-1700 lychtting. N.E.D. (1903) also records the forms Middle English liȝtyn, late Middle English lyten.
Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: light adj.2, -en suffix5.
Etymology: < light adj.2 + -en suffix5. Compare earlier alight v.2, light v.2, and also alighten v.1, enlighten v. Compare also earlier lightning n. and slightly later lightening n.1The form leyȝtneþ (in sense 6a(a)) probably shows alteration after lait v.1 (compare discussion at light n.1). A specific development of this word may perhaps be shown by to lighten up 1a at lighten v.2 Phrasal verbs; compare also notes at lighten v.2 3c, lighten v.2 5.
†1. transitive. To shed spiritual light upon (a person or place); to enlighten or illuminate spiritually. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > enlightenment > enlighten [verb (transitive)]
lighteOE
annealeOE
enlightOE
lightenc1350
enlightena1500
illustrate1526
illuminate?1566
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 8 (MED) Holy chirche..is liȝtned of þe seuen graces of þe holy gost.
Remonstr. against Romish Corruptions (Titus) (1851) 69 Othere bisshopis..ben more lightnid of God in kunnynge and holynesse.
a1450 (a1396) W. Hilton Eight Chapters on Perfection 15 (MED) Þe grace of þe Holy Goost..liȝtneþ and purgiþ so þe soule.
1494 W. Hilton Scala Perfeccionis (de Worde) ii. xxx. sig. oiiii He lyghtned her reason, & kyndeled her affeccion.
?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) i. xiv. sig. Biiiv It shal be longe or thou be gostely lightned.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. xv Beeyng lyghtened by the doctryne of thy blessed Apostle and Euangelyste John.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Rom. viii. f. xxiii The holy psalme wryter Dauid lightened with the spirite of god.
1550 R. Hutchinson Image of God (1560) xviii. 94 The man which falleth after he is lightened, is not without al possibilitie of amendement.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 197 Now the Lord lighten thee, thou art a great foole. View more context for this quotation
1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ezek. xliii. comm. Al the world is lightned by the preaching of Christs Apostles.
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 180 Oh how they were lightned! they saw what they never saw. View more context for this quotation
2.
a.
(a) transitive. To shed light upon (something); to give light to; to make bright or luminous; to light up, illuminate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > illumination > illuminate [verb (transitive)]
onlighteOE
enlightOE
alemeOE
alightOE
lightOE
belighta1200
lightena1382
clear1382
alightenc1384
lumine1387
clarify1398
shine1398
shed1412
beamc1430
enlymec1440
illumine1447
enlumine1481
illustre1490
enclear1509
elumine1532
illuminate1535
unshadow1550
illightena1555
allumine1570
eluminate1580
unnight1594
enlighten1595
to strike up1598
illume1604
luminate1623
illustrate1625
unbenight1629
emblaze1637
burn1712
alluminate1726
lamp1808
enkindle1870
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. i. 15 God..seid, be þer ymade liȝt ȝeuers in þe firmament of heuen..And liȝtne þei [perhaps altered from liȝt ȝeue þei apon; a1425 Corpus Oxf. liȝtne thei; a1425 L.V. liȝtne þo; L. illuminent] þe erþe.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Ellesmere) (1874) l. 1050 Hir desir Is to be quyked and lightned of youre fir [c1405 Hengwrt lighted, c1425 Petworth liȝtned, c1430 Cambr. Gg.4.27 lyghtenyd].
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 117 (MED) Þis charbuncle lightnez all þe chaumbre on þe nyght.
?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) iii. xlviii. sig. Mviv Than shal hierusalem be lyghtned & enserched with lanternes & lyghtes.
1591 E. Spenser Virgil's Gnat in Complaints sig. I3 Lightned with deadly lamps on euerie post.
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 ccxxxi. 59 A Key of fire ran all along the shore, And lighten'd all the River with the blaze.
1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 7 The body of the church is lightened by a series of..arched windows.
1887 H. Caine Deemster I. x. 207 Pavement of deep black, lightened only by the image of a star.
2001 Log Home Living May 101 The glass block window lightens the room.
(b) transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1890) II. 77 Sanct Xistus the Pape, quha now rycht wirschepful lychtnis [L. illustrat] the Roman Kirk.
1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 348 The darkness of the captivity was lightened by the light of the prophetic grace which shone through Daniel and Ezekiel.
1880 E. White Certainty in Relig. 32 That Lord of theirs who lightens the earth with his glory.
1900 J. Morley Cromwell ii. v. 194 For the king the darkness was lightened by a treacherous ray of hope from Scotland.
2001 E. W. Kilbourne Bridge across Cent. I. p. xiv Secular history is more often darkened with tragedy than lightened by hope.
(c) intransitive. To become illuminated or lit up; to brighten.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > illumination > be or become illuminated [verb (intransitive)]
illumine?a1513
illuminate1706
lighten1906
1906 J. Blyth Aerial Burglars vii. 119 Slowly the night passed. Slowly the windows lightened at the coming of the day.
1911 H. M. Walbrook Nights at Play 115 When the room lightens again, Owen Wingrave lies stretched on the floor, dead.
2015 S. Tomlinson Good Girl vi. 89 I snuggled closer to him, let his silky hair fall across my face as the room lightened around us.
b.
(a) transitive. To make (a person's face, eyes, etc.) animated or lively; to light up, brighten. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > make cheerful [verb (transitive)] > make face or eyes cheerful
to clear up1594
uncloud?1594
lighten1605
irradiate1651
light1761
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > be cheerful [verb (intransitive)] > assume expression of cheerful liveliness
light1761
to light up1787
lighten1867
1605 H. Broughton tr. Ecclesiastes viii. 1 in Comm. vpon Coheleth or Ecclesiastes 67 Wisdome in a man will lighten his face: & the hardnes of his face wilbe altered.
1762 J. Macpherson Fingal 96 Surly joy lightens his face.
1795 Gentleman's Mag. 65 544/1 To lighten up the clouded countenances of a dull society.
1839 A. E. Bray Trial of Heart II. 125 But for an occasional beam of benevolent and kindly feeling that would even now lighten up his countenance for a moment on the sight of an old friend, there was nothing by which we could have recognised the once active, lively, intelligent being.
2008 C. Brockway Skinny Dipping xix. 172 Sarah's grandmother squinted, trying to place her. A glint of recognition lightened her cloudy eyes.
(b) intransitive. Of the face, eyes, etc.: to become animated or lively; to light up, brighten. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > have (specific) appearance [verb (intransitive)] > have specific facial appearance or expression > change expression > specific
falla1382
lighten1749
1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 206 I could observe his colour rise, and his eyes lighten with joy.
1867 ‘Ouida’ Cecil Castlemaine's Gage 10 The beauty, whose eyes he had seen lighten and proud brow flush.
1875 M. Clarke His Nat. Life III. iv. i. 108 Her face lightens up with an interest I rarely see upon it at other times.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 168 His eye lightened, and the old gleam of pride..spoke from it.
1909 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. May 526 As he was about to explain her face lightened. ‘Oh, yes, I know that word.’
2016 Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) (Nexis) 13 May We tell him that we travelled from Colombo to visit this sacred abode, and his face lightens up with a radiant smile.
3.
a. intransitive. To shine, flash, burn brightly; to be or grow luminous, to glow with light. Also with up. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > shine [verb (intransitive)]
shinec725
brighteOE
blika1000
lightOE
shimmera1100
starec1225
lightena1382
blikena1400
glowa1400
sheenc1420
flourish1587
to stick off1604
lamp1609
skyre1677
gloze1820
moon1885
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. i. 15 God..seid, be þer ymade liȝt ȝeuers..& liȝtne þei in þe firmament of heuen: And liȝtne þei þe erþe.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Ecclus. xlii. 16 The sunne liȝtnynge [E.V. c1384 Douce 369(2) shynende; L. illuminans] bihelde by alle thingis.
a1500 (?a1400) Stanzaic Life of Christ (Harl. 2250) (1926) l. 10364 (MED) Fayrer þen fir no mon may seke þer leghtnes none so louelely.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 72v With a launchant laite lightonyd the water.
1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. x. 155 His steely Lance, that lighten'd as he past.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby i. xxix. 43 He will wait the hour, When her lamp lightens in the tower.
2016 Times of India (Nexis) 18 Oct. A wire and a red bulb can be connected to capillary tube which would then raise an alarm and bulb would lighten up to alert that the tank is full.
b. intransitive. To shine like light on. Now rare. Quot. 1549 at lighten v.2 6 is commonly interpreted as showing this sense rather than its intended sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > shine [verb (intransitive)] > shine upon or give light
beshinea1300
reflect1594
strike1662
lighten1814
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision III. xxvii. 338 From her radiant smiles,..pleasure so divine Did lighten on me [It. lo piacer divin che mi rifulse].
1950 S. Aurobindo Savitri xi. i. 680 Death's sombre cowl was cast from Nature's brow; There lightened on her the godhead's lurking love.
†4. transitive. In Biblical language: To remove blindness or dimness from (the eyes); to give or restore sight to (a blind person). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments of specific parts > treat specific parts [verb (transitive)] > remove dimness from eyes
lightena1382
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Psalms cxlv. 8 Þe lord losneþ þe gyuede: þe lord liȝtneþ þe blynde.
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. iv. l. 3655 Þei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nȝyt lyȝtneþ hyre lookyng.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Tobit xiv. 1 Aftir that he was liȝtned, he lyuede two and fourti ȝeer.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xviii. §9. 70 The comaundment of lord shynand, lightenand eghen.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 195 Þenne whenne þou ert vp Risen fro slepe of synne, and art I-litenyd, & mayste see.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xii[i]. 3 Lighten myne eyes, that I slepe not in death.
5. transitive. To kindle, ignite, light (a fire, candle, lantern, etc.). Also in figurative contexts. Now South Asian.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > kindle or set alight
annealeOE
ontendeOE
atend1006
alightOE
kindlec1175
tindc1175
lightc1225
lightenc1384
quickc1390
firea1393
to set (a) fire in, on, upon, of, now only toc1400
quickenc1425
accenda1475
enlumine1477
to light upa1500
to shoot (something) on firec1540
to give fire1562
incend1598
entine1612
betine1659
emblaze1743
to touch off1759
ignite1823
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xi. 33 No man liȝtneth [a1425 L.V. tendith; L. accendit] a lanterne, and puttith in hidlis.
a1400 Prymer (St. John's Cambr.) (1891) 46 Liȝtne the fier of thi loue in hem.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xv. sig. Dviiiv Venus..lyghtened the torches fo to receyue hiemen the god of weddynge.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xvii. §31. 64 Thou lightnys my lantern.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 15v Who haue had, in so fewe yeares, the Candel of Goddes worde, so oft lightned, so oft put out.
1650 J. Howell Addit. Lett. iv. 8 in Epistolæ Ho-elianæ (ed. 2) As one Taper lightneth another.
1790 Mirror 7 What whims and caprices in women conspire To deaden love's flame, or to lighten the fire.
1927 P. R. Aiyar & N. S. R. Aiyer Illustr. Cross Exam. I. x. 227 He..had gone to her to procure the assistance in lightening a fire.
2016 Regional Times Sindh (Pakistan) (Nexis) 8 Mar. Candles were lightened in the memory of the struggle of working women.
6.
a.
(a) intransitive. To give off or emit flashes of lightning. Chiefly with non-referential it in it lightens, it is lightening, etc. Often in to thunder and lighten. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > emit beams (of a luminary) [verb (intransitive)] > flash lightning
laita1225
lightena1398
levina1400
flush-flash1582
fulgurate1677
flash1791
fork1807
streak1849
lightning1861
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [verb (intransitive)] > lighten
laita1225
lightena1398
levina1400
lightning1861
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xi. iv. 579 A cloude is..as it were modir of alle þinges þat beþ gendred in þe eyr..now he rayneþ,..now he liȝtneþ, and now he þondreþ.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 352 Hit lyghtned and thundirde as hit had bene wylde.
1555 R. Eden tr. A. Vespucci in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 244v The heauen..neuer ceased thunderyng rorynge, and lyghtenynge with terrible noyse.
a1637 B. Jonson Under-woods 203 in Wks. (1640) III God lightens not at mans each fraile offence.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 200 Two of the Men..cried out, it lightened; one said, he saw the Flash.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xviii. 285 It may thunder and lighten before the close of evening. View more context for this quotation
1855 Reynolds's Misc. 28 July 12/2 We have an awful storm, and it is thundering and lightning and raining in torrents.
2012 Itar-Tass (Nexis) 11 Aug. When pilots performed aerobatics it lightened and thundered. But the bad weather did not prevent professionals from reaching the acme of skill.
(b) intransitive. Of lightning: to flash. Also figurative and in figurative contexts: to flash like lightning; to dart. Also with out or forth. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1611 Bible (King James) Luke xvii. 24 As the lightning that lighteneth out of the one part vnder heauen, shineth vnto the other part vnder heauen. View more context for this quotation
1722 E. Haywood Brit. Recluse (ed. 2) 132 Scorn lighten'd in her Glances!
1763 J. Macpherson Temora ii. 32 The king was to revenge his son.—He lightened forward in battle.
1821 R. Laurence tr. Bk. of Enoch 61 When the lightning lightens, the thunder sounds.
1912 Sat. Evening Post 29 June 3/2 A jovial kind of thunder rumbled through it [sc. the crowd], with a wicked spark of temper lightening forth occasionally.
1980 Antigonish Rev. Winter 39 Hot, searing, the flash of pain lightning across his cheek.
†b. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To give out or emit (something) in the manner of lightning, esp. quickly, brightly, or forcefully. Usually with forth or out. Also: to send down like lightning. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [verb (transitive)] > emit (light, etc.) with a flash > cause to flash or flicker
lightena1586
flare1745
flash1850
flicker1869
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxv. sig. Ee6v Zelmane..drew out her sword, which vpon those il-armed churls giuing as many wounds as blowes, & as many deathes almost as wounds (lightning courage, and thundering smart vpon them) kept them at a bay.
1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. B4 Shee lightened out smiles from those cheekes.
a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. A3v Her sparkling eyes, Doe lighten forth sweet Loues alluring fire.
1592 S. Daniel Complaynt of Rosamond in Delia sig. I4v Thy King..Lightens foorth glory on thy darke estate.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxix. 74 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 84 Lighten indignation downe.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iii. 68 His eye..lightens forth Controlling maiestie. View more context for this quotation
1627 W. Duncomb tr. V. d'Audiguier Tragi-comicall Hist. our Times v. 87 Calista nourished an enemy in her house, who lightened forth..miserable effects in small time after.
1767 S. Langley in tr. Homer Iliad 61 Doubtless Jove had a tenfold unusual terror in his looks at this juncture, lightening forth in the indignant flesh of his eyes an unsufferable glory, which thus over-whelmed and over-awed all the Gods.
7. intransitive. Of the day: to dawn, to be suffused with sunlight. Of the sky, horizon, etc.: to grow brighter and lighter in colour, esp. at dawn or sunrise.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > emit beams (of a luminary) [verb (intransitive)] > become daylight > be brightened by or as by the light of dawn
adawc1425
lightenc1450
dawn1648
c1450 (?a1400) Parl. Thre Ages (BL Add. 31042) l. 16 (MED) Iche foule in that frythe faynere þan oþer That the derke was done & the daye lightenede.
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Maides Trag. i. sig. C3 The East begins to lighten.
1657 tr. Jean l'Evangéliste de Bois-le-Duc Kingdome of God in Soule x. 124 The sunne of itselfe shynes, the Day lightneth; the fountayn flowes.
1910 Power Boating Dec. 647/2 A little after 2 o'clock, the rain ceased and the sky lightened again.
1931 E. Linklater Juan in Amer. 162 But presently the sky began to lighten, and a cock crew.
2013 M. D'Antonio Mortal Sins xi. 133 As the sky began to lighten, Blaine and O'Neil pulled into a highway rest area.
8.
a. transitive. To cause (something) to become lighter in tone or colour; to change (a colour) to a paler or less intense shade.
ΚΠ
1560 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli 2nd Pt. Secretes Alexis of Piemont 116 You maie occupie it [sc. this lie]..for to washe the beyonde sea azure, for asmuch as it augmenteth lighteneth the colour of it.
1659 W. Montagu Shepheard's Paradise v. 169 It is so black a fault as passion even through this colour wil lighten it.
1660 Whole Art of Drawing 12 It is a facile matter to darken a light Colour, but a difficult to lighten a deep one.
?1770 C. Bowles Artists Assistant in Drawing vi. 37 This Green may be lightened by an Addition of Dutch Pink.
1855 R. F. Burton Personal Narr. Pilgrimage to El-Medinah II. xxii. 80 The crinal hair is frequently lightened by bleaching, and the pilar is generally browner than the crinal.
1887 Jrnl. Soc. Chem. Industry 31 Dec. 795/2 Mr. Rawlins said that grinding lightened the colour.
2005 T. Hall Salaam Brick Lane vii. 148 Rohana was a petite girl, twenty-two years old, with pretty eyes and dark skin that had been mercilessly lightened with ‘Fair & Lovely’ cream and then highlighted with crimson blush.
b. intransitive. Of a colour, something coloured: to become paler; to fade.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > absence of colour > lose colour [verb (intransitive)] > grow pale
blakea1225
fallowa1250
blokec1275
palec1400
wan1582
bleacha1616
blanch1768
lighten1781
sicken1853
unflush1866
sickly1882
1781 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds I. i. 211 Fore part of the neck yellow green, lightening into yellow at the sides.
1893 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. I. 1030/1 The fabric lightened in the wash.
1991 Mirabella May 60/2 The shock of carrot-colored hair..had lightened to a soft strawberry blond.
2005 J. Fredston Snowstruck ix. 258 The sky had lightened to a sludgy gray, revealing fat sausage-shaped wind clouds scudding around the ridges.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

lightenv.2

Brit. /ˈlʌɪtn/, U.S. /ˈlaɪtn/
Forms: Middle English lightyn, Middle English liȝtn- (inflected form), Middle English lihtn- (inflected form), Middle English liten, Middle English lyȝten, Middle English–1500s lyghten, Middle English–1500s lyghtyn, Middle English– lightn- (inflected form), late Middle English ilightnede (past participle), late Middle English– lighten, 1600s light'n (poetic); English regional (northern) 1800s leeghten, 1800s leeten, 1800s leetn- (inflected form), 1800s leet'n- (inflected form); also Scottish pre-1700 lychtn- (inflected form), pre-1700 (1900s– Shetland) lichtn- (inflected form).
Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: light adj.1, -en suffix5.
Etymology: < light adj.1 + -en suffix5. Compare earlier light v.1 and alight v.1In quot. 1611 at sense 2c translating Hebrew hēqal to remove (one's hand) from (a person), i.e. to spare (a person) ( < qal light). With branch II. compare light v.1 II.
I. To lessen or remove a burden.
1.
a. transitive. To relieve (a person or thing) of or †from a burden, or something regarded as a burden; to reduce or remove a burden from (something).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > make light or lighter [verb (transitive)] > relieve of a weight or load
lightenc1390
unlighta1425
light1545
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 644 Heo was lihtned of hire euel in a luytel stounde.
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 2196/2 I thank ye all, that ye haue deliuered and lightened me of all this paltry.
1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden i. 2 In Winter your young trees & herbs would be lightned of snow, and your Allyes clensed.
1807 E. S. Barrett Rising Sun III. 88 We ought to return our grateful thanks to heaven, for having lightened us from so horrid a charge.
1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe iv. 236 To lighten the cart..I descended and walked on ahead.
2010 @mvgirl 6 Mar. in twitter.com (accessed 21 June 2019) Passport in purse, euros in wallet, purse lightened of non-essentials.
b. transitive. To reduce or remove the cargo of (a ship); to relieve of cargo. Also intransitive: (of a ship) to be unloaded.Quot. c1400 could alternatively be interpreted as showing light v.1
ΚΠ
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 160 Þer watȝ busy ouer-borde bale to kest, Her bagges and her feþer-beddes and her bryȝt wedes..to lyȝten þat lome.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Jonah i. 5 The goodes that were in the shippe, they cast in to the see, to lighten it off them.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 14 517 When vessels..were of too heavy a burthen to come up the canal they were lightened at Sharpness.
1891 Daily News 3 Nov. 3/7 The steamer Amaryllis..is ashore at Savannah. She will have to lighten before she can get off.
2016 Africa News (Nexis) 26 Apr. Key marketers had been invited to come with their smaller vessels to lighten the mother vessel.
c. transitive. In humorous, ironic, or euphemistic use. To deprive (a person) of money or a possession by taking it; = relieve v. 5c.
ΚΠ
1600 J. Twitt in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 569 We lightened them of their hogges and tabacco, and sent the men away with their frigat.
1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 226 Clement, with his young pupil, came home, quite lightened of the money they had taken abroad.
1832 Q. Rev. Oct. 234 How delightful it is in England to take a moonlight walk, without the least fear of meeting a robber to lighten you of your watch or purse!
1881 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. 18 Feb. 81/1 He was pulled off his horse by the courteous Bashi-Bazouks for the humane purpose of lightening him of his spare cash.
2003 Sunday Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 27 Apr. g7/5 They succeeded in suckering and beggaring Jamaicans abroad and other foreigners, dazzling them with high interest rates to lighten them of their money.
2.
a. transitive. To reduce the weight or severity of (something abstract or immaterial); to alleviate, lessen, mitigate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > make light or lighter [verb (transitive)]
lighta1225
lighten?a1425
alleviate1592
alightena1661
levitate1686
lightweight1955
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > make less violent or severe [verb (transitive)] > mitigate or alleviate
lithec897
lighteOE
lissea1000
stillc1000
alightOE
alithe?a1200
softc1225
swagec1330
abate?c1335
easea1374
accoya1375
allegea1375
stintc1374
slakea1387
assuage1393
planea1400
slecka1400
plasterc1400
soften?c1415
lighten?a1425
mitigate?a1425
relievec1425
asoftc1430
alleviate?a1475
allevya1500
sletcha1500
alleve1544
allevate1570
salve?1577
sweetena1586
smooth1589
disembitter1622
deleniate1623
slaken1629
tranquillitate1657
soothe1711
?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 106, in Middle Eng. Dict. at Lightnen Þe man was wel liȝtned, & þe hete & þe brennynge wele asslaked.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. i. v. sig. M7 His fellows Burthen lightens not his Load.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 960 How we may light'n Each others burden in our share of woe. View more context for this quotation
1670 A. Marvell Let. 14 Apr. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 316 The King..resolved..to weigh up and lighten the Duke's Efficacy, by coming himself in Person.
1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. i. vii. 57 The manner of this address was far from lightening Juniper's embarrassment.
1902 Med. News 27 Sept. 602/2 Relieve the oppressive burden of many useless books, and thus lighten the strain.
1999 Associated Press Newswire (Nexis) 23 Nov. Cooperating with investigators in an attempt to lighten his sentence on cocaine theft charges.
b. transitive. To reduce the weight of (something material); to make lighter or less heavy.
ΚΠ
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes i. xlvii. f. 78v/2 The Egyptians haue a custome to lyghten the burdon of their camels, when they passe the desertes of Arabia, which is much better, then to ouercharge them.
1576 Act 18 Eliz. c. 1 §1 Yf any person..deminishe..or lighten the proper Moneys..of this Realme.
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts 11 114 A stiff loam, lightened with rotten sawdust.
1965 F. Gerrard Macgregor's Struct. Meat Animals (ed. 2) ii. 25 A large hole, the Obturator Foramen, which lightens the bone but does not give passage to any large vessels.
2016 New Scientist 15 Oct. 37/1 Getting better gas mileage out of our jet engines is way more important than lightening the load a little bit by making a lighter wing material.
c. transitive. To remove or reduce the weight which (something) brings to bear on something else; to lessen the pressure of. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > make light or lighter [verb (transitive)] > remove the weight of
lighten1611
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. vi. 5 Peraduenture hee will lighten his hand from off you [Heb. yāqēl 'eṯ-yāḏō mē-ʿălēḵem] . View more context for this quotation
1797 Encycl. Brit. VI. 670/2 By lightening or sinking the graver with the hand, according to the occasion.
1984 J. Didion Democracy i. ix. 58 You might try lightening up the foot on the gas pedal.
d. intransitive. To become smaller; to decrease in size, weight, or volume.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > be light [verb (intransitive)] > become lighter
lighten1720
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 90 As most of their Luggage was our Provision, it lighten'd every Day.
1962 Cherokee (Iowa) Daily Times 17 May 6/4 Butcher hogs and fat lambs scored gains Monday at the Sioux City Stockyards as supplies lightened in both divisions.
2018 Mercury News (Calif.) (Nexis) 5 Feb. Personal debt has lightened since the financial crisis a decade ago.
e. intransitive. Of something physical: to become gentler or lighter; to become less forceful; to ease up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > become less violent or severe [verb (intransitive)] > lose vigour or intensity
swindOE
wane1297
forslacka1300
keelc1325
deadc1384
abatea1387
flag1639
to go off1642
subsidea1645
slacken1651
flat1654
lower1699
relax1701
deaden1723
entame1768
sober1825
lighten1827
sletch1847
slow1849
languish1855
bate1860
to slow up1861
to slow down1879
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > decrease in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (intransitive)] > decline or fall off
afalleOE
swindOE
slakec1315
pairc1390
fade1398
to fall awayc1510
decline1530
to fall off1608
sink1613
recess1641
fail1819
lighten1827
1827 Morning Post 22 Oct. The wind lightened, and changed so as to bring the ships astern more to windward.
1862 J. Tyndall Mountaineering in 1861 iv. 28 Until the rain seemed to lighten.
1872 N.Y. Herald 13 Sept. 7/5 The wind had lightened up considerably, and was now not fresher than a regular balloon sail breeze.
1990 J. Welch Indian Lawyer 182 Her step lightened and she padded quickly up the step in her soft-tanned moccasins.
3.
a. intransitive. Of the heart, mind, etc.: to be or become unburdened; to be cheered.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > state of being consoled or relieved > be consoled or relieved [verb (intransitive)]
to take (have) comfortc1320
solace1340
lightenc1440
cheer1590
comforta1616
expectorate1749
c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) l. 2219 (MED) His hert lightened in hy Blythe for to bee.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 1 Thaire suete songe made my herte to lighten.
a1658 J. Reeve Hymnes & Spiritual Songs (1682) 179 Your soul may lighten, and faith may highten.
1798 Heir of Montague II. 169 As he walked along Frederic found his mind lightened.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xi. 74 As I looked aloft..my heart lightened.
1991 M. Mullen Flight of Earls (1992) ix. 105 Spanish wine was served in large pitchers. It had been taken from the newly-stocked cellar. As Hugh O'Neill watched it flow into pewter goblets his heart lightened.
b. transitive. To unburden or relieve (a person's heart, mind, etc.). Also: to cheer up, relax, or comfort (a person). Also occasionally with up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > make cheerful [verb (transitive)]
to mend a person's cheera1325
raisec1384
cherishc1400
rehetec1400
blithec1440
cheer1440
lightena1450
light?1473
embellish1481
hearten1524
exhilarate1540
laetificate1547
to cheer up1550
lift1572
to do a person's heart good1575
acheera1592
upcheerc1595
cherry1596
relevate1598
encheer1605
brighten1607
buoy1652
undumpisha1661
to lift (up) a person's spirits1711
cheerfulize1781
blithen1824
pearten1827
chirk1843
to chipper up1873
to chirp up188.
to buck up1909
the mind > emotion > pleasure > state of being consoled or relieved > be relieved of [verb (transitive)] > to relieve one's heart or mind
easec1385
lightena1450
unburden1538
unload1575
physic1589
vent1631
(to take) a load off one's mind1851
free1855
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 2410 Whos comyng lightned his hert somdele.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvii. 208 This noyse lyghtyns full well myn hart!
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) i. ii. 21 A trustie villaine..that..Lightens my humour with his merry iests. View more context for this quotation
1666 J. Bunyan Grace Abounding ⁋258 I was greatly lightened in my mind.
1781 R. Burns Let. 27 Dec. (2001) I. 7 When for an hour or two..my spirits are a little lightened.
1833 F. C. Belfour tr. Paul of Aleppo Trav. Macarius IV. 401 The heart is lightened of its cares on entering it [sc. the church].
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xvii. 61 It was absurd to imagine that a man really heartbroken by remorse and shame for one act of perfidy would determine to lighten his conscience by committing a second act of perfidy as odious and as disgraceful as the first.
1990 Country Homes June 154/4 If anyone got too gloomy, Eric would lighten them up.
2013 Morning Bull. (Rockhampton, Queensland) (Nexis) 9 Nov. 34 Their selflessness and unwavering support lightens my heart.
c. transitive. To make (a situation, period of time, general mood, etc.) more cheerful, lively, or relaxed; to make (something) less tedious, arduous, or imposing; to impart an easiness to. Also with up.Probably often also associated with lighten v.1; cf. note at to lighten up 1a at Phrasal verbs and also brighten v. 4a.
ΚΠ
1782 Barnaby Brittle ii. i. 20 I endure your company..only to lighten the hours which my old tyrant makes otherwise insupportable.
1843 C. J. Lever Jack Hinton xxi. 141 To lighten the road by song and story.
1889 Sat. Rev. 7 Dec. 651/2 It is a charming love-story, lightened up on all sides by the humorous, genial, character-sketches of less important personages.
1949 A. Miller Death of Salesman i. 65 Start off with a couple of your good stories to lighten things up.
1984 Christian Sci. Monitor 19 July (New Eng. Supp.) b4/3 His light, informal showmanship is what lightened up the show.
2013 J. Jones Lissa on Sidelines iv. 36 She jumped out of her seat and started doing a silly jig to try to lighten the mood.
†4. transitive. To make (a person's heels) agile or nimble. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > bodily movement > move (the body or a member) [verb (transitive)] > make agile or nimble
lighten1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. iv. 117 Lets haue a dance..that we may lighten our own hearts, and our wiues heeles. View more context for this quotation
5. intransitive. To lessen in seriousness, severity, or intensity; to become more relaxed or cheerful.Cf. senses 2a, 3c.Probably often also associated with lighten v.1; cf. note at to lighten up 1a at Phrasal verbs and also brighten v. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > be cheerful [verb (intransitive)] > become cheerful or cheer up
cheer?1553
to look up1600
come1607
to cheer up1620
exhilarate1620
brighten1692
to come to1765
to come about1775
spurk1823
to hearten up1834
to buck up1844
chirk1844
pearten1851
to come around1853
to liven up1863
to chipper up1867
lighten1873
pep1910
to lighten up1911
1873 M. Oliphant Innocent II. xiii. 234 It was astonishing how the brows of the two women cleared, how the atmosphere lightened when these two boys..came in.
1912 E. A. Curtis Norseman iv. i. 73 All are feasting and merry-making, save Ingeborg, who is quiet and unsmiling, except with the little Prince, for whom her sadness lightens.
1939 Spectator 28 Apr. 740/2 The strong statistical position of rubber may not help them to achieve solid improvement until international political tension lightens.
2019 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 4 Jan. 30 The mood lightened when an explosive chemistry lesson shocked everyone into giggles.
†II. To descend, alight.
6. intransitive. To descend, alight; to light on or upon. Also with down. Obsolete.This is the intended sense in the Te Deum (quot. 1549), but the passage is commonly interpreted as showing the sense ‘to shine like light on’ (see lighten v.1 3b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > descend and settle
light?c1225
falla1300
alightc1330
settlec1380
lightenc1460
reside1616
to sit down1897
c1460 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Laud) l. 11258 While this angill tydyng told Othir lyghtynd [a1400 Trin. Cambr. liȝten, a1400 Vesp. lighted] doune many-fold.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 172 (MED) Þe holy gost shalle liten in the as a shadow.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Mattyns f. iiv O Lorde, let thy mercy lighten vpon us [L. fiat, Domine, misericordia super nos].
1704 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 4) i. 150 They fly out of Italy into Africk: lightning many times on Ships in the midst of the Sea, to rest themselves when tir'd and spent with flying.

Phrasal verbs

With up (as an adverb) in specialized senses. to lighten up
1.
a. intransitive. Of something abstract, as an atmosphere, a person's mood, etc.: to become more cheerful, relaxed, or positive.Perhaps instead originally a development of lighten v.1 Probably often associated with both words (the resulting state being thought to be less ‘heavy’ and less ‘dark’).
ΚΠ
1825 Morning Chron. 5 May He was a father himself, and had felt his heart lighten up at the cheering smiles of infant innocence.
1914 Variety 10 Oct. 11/3 After this act the play begins to lighten up surprisingly.
1991 N. Goldberg Wild Mind xxi. 82 My mood lightened up.
2010 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 15 Oct. 36 Kele flipped on a particularly cheeky Prince track, and immediately the atmosphere lightened up.
b. intransitive. colloquial (originally U.S.). Of a person: to become less severe, serious, or worried; to take a more easy-going attitude, cheer up, relax. Frequently in imperative.Probably associated with lighten v.1; see note at sense 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > be cheerful [verb (intransitive)] > become cheerful or cheer up
cheer?1553
to look up1600
come1607
to cheer up1620
exhilarate1620
brighten1692
to come to1765
to come about1775
spurk1823
to hearten up1834
to buck up1844
chirk1844
pearten1851
to come around1853
to liven up1863
to chipper up1867
lighten1873
pep1910
to lighten up1911
1911 N.Y. Times 24 Dec. 1 They want the Inspectors and the Captains and the rank and file to lighten up, to loose [sic] the screws a little bit.
1955 A. Murray Let. 2 Nov. in R. Ellison & A. Murray Trading Twelves (2000) 101 Lighten up, lighten up and loosen up. Watch your elbows, man... What you mad about?
1977 S. Kernochan Dry Hustle 208 Lighten up, now. I'm a skilled laborer like anyone else.
1991 C. George Out of Storm (BNC) ii She giggled, and he nodded approvingly. ‘That's better. You're beginning to lighten up a bit.’
2004 C. Lee Aloft i. 6 I left a message for him in the voice of Mr. T, all gruff and belligerent, threatening to open a big can of whoop-ass on him if he didn't lighten up.
2. intransitive. colloquial. to lighten up on: to treat or do with greater moderation; to treat less harshly or intensely; to ease up on; to go easy on.
ΚΠ
1889 Michigan Farmer 14 Dec. 2/5 As the pullets mature I lighten up on the corn as a regular feed, substituting wheat and oats.
1935 N.Y. Times 10 Aug. 3 It was the practice to lighten up on work during the hot months.
1965 Washington Post 4 May b3/2 He's scared so I'll have to lighten up on him with my gimmicks.
2015 Scottish Daily Mail (Nexis) 22 May I'm my own harshest critic as well. Managers have told me to lighten up on myself.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.?a1425v.1c1350v.2c1390
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