lighteningn.1
/ˈlʌɪtn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlʌɪtnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlaɪtn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ 1. The shining or shedding of light; suffusion with light; lighting up, brightening. Now rare except with reference to the sky, the dawn, etc., overlapping with sense 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > [noun] > shining or being luminous
shininga1300
lighteninga1382
lucencec1485
overshining1587
emication1633
luminosity1634
outshining1648
luminousness1668
fulsion1680
affulsion1730
raying1787
lumination1794
nebulosity1813
lustrousness1839
luminance1880
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Psalms lxxvii. 14 He ladde hem þennes in þe cloude of þe dai: & al nyȝt in þe liȝtnyng of fijr.
c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 45 Bi þe liȝtnynge of a sterre, To ihesu alle þre presentis þei brouȝte.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 734 The Son with calm aspect and cleer Light'ning Divine. View more context for this quotation
1814 W. Scott Let. ?Mar. (1932) III. 418 A lightening in the domestic horizon lately so unhappily overclouded.
1873 R. Broughton Nancy III. 228 A kindling of the eye, and godly lightening of all her gentle face.
2009 C. Patrick Netherhall Gardens & Beyond x. 211 The dawn had arrived as a gradual lightening of the small barred window.
2. figurative. Enlightenment. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > enlightenment > [noun]
lighteOE
lightening1395
illustrationc1480
irradiation1589
illumination1634
Remonstr. against Romish Corruptions (Titus) (1851) 39 (MED) God is my lyghtnynge and myn helthe.
a1425 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Laud) (1884) xxvi. §1. 95 Lord my lyȝtnynge: and my heel.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. AAiiv Grace is an illumynacion or lightnynge of the soule.
a1626 L. Andrewes Morall Law Expounded (1642) 344 They might carrie commeatum animae, provision for the soule, for the lightening of their understanding.
1987 R. Noll in S. Nicholson Shamanism (1996) iii. 50 To become a shaman (angakok), one must first acquire the experience of ‘lightening’ or ‘enlightenment’.
3. The action or process of kindling, igniting, or lighting a fire, lamp, etc. Now South Asian.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > going or setting on fire > setting on fire or alight
lightingc1300
firing1370
lighting up1554
lightening1599
1599 R. Allott Wits Theater Little World f. 123 Salmoneus, by lightening of a Torch, did counterfet the thundering sownds & lightning stormes of heauen.
1762 Charters & Acts Province Pennsylvania I. 31/2 The Wardens shall order the Lightening of Lamps and hire Watchmen.
1872 R. Mitra in Taittiríya Áranyaka of Black Yajur Veda Contents 7 The reason why the bricks are placed after the lightening of the fire.
2020 Early Times (India) (Nexis) 14 Mar. The programme [celebrating International Women's Day] started with the traditional lightening of the lamp and recitation of Vande Matram.
4. The process of becoming lighter in tone or colour, or paler or less intense in shade; the action of making something lighter in this way; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > absence of colour > [noun] > loss of colour
discoloura1398
palingc1450
discolouration1545
discolouredness1585
discolouring1598
decoloration1623
etiolation1784
discolourment1821
pallescence1822
discolorization1827
lightening1839
decolorizing1861
decolorization1871
1839 Liberator (Boston) 1 Mar. The gradual lightening of complexions among the slaves was strikingly observable.
1861 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 151 461 The point at which the artificially supplied Nitrogen becomes exhausted is indicated by a lightening of the colour of the leaves.
1914 L. Cavalieri My Secrets of Beauty xx. 272 Two shampoos a week in water in which ammonia has been sprinkled soon brings about a lightening of the hair.
1993 P. Metzger Enliven your Paintings with Light iii. 47 The lightening is done by wetting an area and gently removing some paint.
2017 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 22 Dec. 4 He is an advocate of ‘diverse beauty’, speaking out against the post-production lightening of skin tones which has been enforced upon black and minority ethnic models.
Phrases
lightening before death: a sudden display of vitality, cheerfulness, etc., occurring just before death. Now rare.In extended use in quot. 2015.The phrase could perhaps alternatively be interpreted as showing lightening n.2 and may sometimes have been understood as such. However, parallel use of ‘a glimmering before death’ in Fletcher's Spanish Curate iv. v. strongly suggests that the phrase originally had the sense of ‘brightness’ rather than ‘lack of heaviness’ and so belongs here.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [noun] > point of > revival of spirits at
lightening before death1597
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 90 How oft haue many at the houre of death Beene blith and pleasant? which their keepers call A lightning before death . View more context for this quotation
1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew v. sig. N3 If it be a Lightning before Death, the best is, I am his Heire.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 517. ¶2 We were once in great Hopes of his Recovery..but this only proved a Light'ning before Death.
1785 H. Walpole Let. 17 Sept. in Corr. (1974) XXXIII. 501 I hope this revival of wit is not lightning before death.
2015 Plastic News (Nexis) 10 Aug. 8 China's scrap imports showed a slight rebound in 2014, but Xuan called it ‘a lightening before death.’
Compounds
lightening-column n. Obsolete a beacon to aid navigation (figurative in quots.).
ΚΠ
1654 tr. J. A. Colom Lighting Colomne or Sea-mirrour (new ed.) (heading) The first booke of the lightning-columne, or sea mirrour.
1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ Another Traveller! I. 413 The first emporium of commerce—the lightening-column of navigation to all the world.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
lighteningn.2
/ˈlʌɪtn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlʌɪtnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlaɪtn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ 1. Relief from pain or sorrow; an instance of this. Also: the fact or an instance of being cheered or comforted.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [noun] > mitigation or alleviation
allegeancec1325
swaging1340
legeancec1390
mitigationa1400
swagea1400
allegementa1425
alleging?a1425
alleviation?a1425
lighteningc1425
queeming1440
allevation1502
soberinga1510
extenuation1542
assuagement1561
releasement1569
assuaging1580
assuage1596
mitification1607
allayment1609
palliation1813
soothing1847
the mind > emotion > pleasure > state of being consoled or relieved > [noun] > consolation or relief
lightingOE
leathc1175
comfort?c1225
solacec1290
solacec1290
lithec1300
comfortingc1320
allegeancec1325
swaging1340
froa1350
releasec1350
consolationc1374
legeancec1390
reliefa1393
comfortationa1400
leathinga1400
swagea1400
allegementa1425
alleviation?a1425
recreation?a1425
refrigery?a1425
lighteningc1425
recomfortc1425
mitigation?1435
recomforting1487
recreancea1500
allevation1502
easement1533
solacy1534
ease1542
cheer1549
assuagement1561
refreshing1561
easing1580
recomfortation1585
recomforture1595
assuage1596
allevement1599
mitification1607
allayment1609
solagement1609
levation1656
solacement1721
solation1757
soulagement1777
consolement1797
de-tension1949
de-tensioning1952
tea and sympathy1953
c1425 tr. J. Arderne Treat. Fistula (Sloane 6) (1910) 59 (MED) Flowyng of blode with liȝtnyng of þe body is gode.
1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 44v He falleth to an amendement and lightening.
1568 V. Skinner tr. R. González de Montes Discouery Inquisition of Spayne f. 40 To relieue his pensiue and heauy harte with some kind of lightning.
1876 J. Hartley Yorksher Puddin' 26 He'd just getten a day off, bi th' way ov a leetnin'.
2007 J. Hart Barefoot Bride 37 ‘So you're divorced?’ she said, horrified at the instinctive lightening of her heart, and ashamed of herself for feeling even a smidgeon of relief.
2.
a. The action or process of lessening the size, weight, or intensity of something heavy or burdensome; reduction. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > [noun] > making light or lighter
lightening1561
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer i. sig. I.iii He hath geuen..musicke vnto vs for a most swete lightning of our trauailes and vexations. So that many times the boisterous labourers in the fieldes in the heate of the sunne beguyle theyr paine with rude and cartarlyke singing.
1653 J. Mayer Comm. Job, David, & Solomon (Job. ii) 17 For true Friends to beare a part with a man in misery is no little lightning of the burthen, under which he groaneth.
1882 Railway World 14 Oct. 970/2 It is now some 10 or 12 years since Mr. Adams first directed attention toward the lightening up of his car bodies.
2010 P. R. Lawrence Driven to Lead i. iii. 58 Certain bodily changes paralleled this behavioral change, such as gracilization, the lightening of bone mass.
b. The feeling experienced by a pregnant woman after the uterus descends into the pelvis and lessens pressure within the abdomen, occurring some days before the onset of labour; (also) the process of descent of the uterus into the pelvis.
ΚΠ
1876 W. S. Playfair Treat. Sci. & Pract. Midwifery I. 131 This change is familiar to all childbearing women, to whom it is known as ‘the lightening before labour’.
1913 J. O. Polak Man. Obstetr. vii. 133 In the primipara the presenting part actually engages in the pelvic brim as a result of lightening.
2004 S. Jones & M. Jones Great Expectations ii. 123/2 Once your baby drops as you near your delivery date, called lightening, you'll discover the luxury of being able to take deep breaths again.
3. The action or process of unloading a ship.
ΚΠ
1590 W. Welwood Sea-law of Scotl. sig. C3 Giff in the lichtning of an schip, the gear that is lowsit and put in an lighter perish by the way, the schip and rest of gudds sal skatt to the vpset thairof.
1655 J. Brinsley Groan for Israel 24 in Two Treat. The lightning and saving of the Ship.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 605 The Frier Rodrigue..carrying 50 [guns], went there without lightening.
1878 Maritime Notes & Queries Sept. 3/2 When a vessel reaches the Port and can enter by lightening, the cost of lighterage falls on the ship.
2002 Jrnl. Maritime Law & Commerce 33 151 The refusal of the Panama Canal authorities to allow the transit of the Aquacharm without lightening did not prevent its full working.
4. Leaven; any substance or agent which causes dough to ferment. Also as a modifier, as in lightening bread, lightening roll, etc. Now U.S. regional.
ΚΠ
1721 W. Gibson Farriers Dispensatory iii. viii. 195 Knead it up with Barm or Lightning, and bake it.
1940 C. L. Brown et al. Amer. Cooks 480 The mush mixture, like homemade yeasts, was called variously ‘rising’, ‘risin'’,” or ‘lightnin'’, according to local custom.
1986 N. Davis & K. Hart Coastal Carolina Cooking 124 Lightning rolls... Combine dry ingredients and add yeast mixture. Cut in lard or shortening.
5. The action or process of making something less tedious or serious; the action or process of making a situation, period of time, etc., more lively, cheerful, or relaxed. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [noun] > liveliness > making lively
vivification1858
lightening1890
1862 J. A. Blake Defects Moral Treatm. Insanity 36 I will add a consideration no less gratifying—the lightening of the weary time of those in process of cure.
1890 Athenæum 6 Dec. 769/1 The volumes, which would seem to need no lightening, are further brightened by some amusing letters.
1891 Round Table 18 Dec. 86/2 There is noticeable of very recent days a tendency toward a lightening up of our literary productions.
2018 D. A. Lynch God in Sound & Silence (e-book ed.) The finale is contentious, as it may be perceived as undermining the tragedy, or as a lightening of the mood.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
lighteningadj.
/ˈlʌɪtn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlʌɪtnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlaɪtn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [adjective] > flashing
flaming?a1400
flashing1548
brandishing1581
lamping1590
lightening1592
flashy1609
fulgid1610
bickering1667
coruscating1705
outflaming1856
aglance1880
flashful1890
1592 H. Constable Diana i. sig. B As my heart shall aye remaine a patient obiect to thy lightning eies.
1594 R. Ashley tr. L. le Roy Interchangeable Course xi. f. 121 Alexander..who like a lightening thunder leaped into diuers parts.
1601 S. Daniel Ciuill Warres (rev. ed.) vi. xcvi. f. 95, in Wks. This..Queene, Whose Victories..Haue, but as onelie lightning motions beene, Before the ruine that insude thereon.
1889 A. Sergeant Deveril's Diamond I. v. 96 ‘I have suffered too, and feel as you have done.’ ‘Have you indeed?’ asked Eleanor, with lightening eyes.
2. That becomes illuminated or suffused with light.
ΚΠ
1843 W. W. Story in Graham's Mag. Apr. 241/2 Out of the slowly lightening air, In the roseate mist far-off and rare, A shadowy shore uplifted lay.
1877 L. Morris Epic of Hades iii. 48 As I went Across the lightening fields.
2015 Y. Lindsay Wife he couldn't Forget xix. 92 She gazed at his profile in the slowly lightening room.
3. That makes something lighter in tone or colour; that changes something to a paler or less intense shade.Frequently with reference to products intended to lighten the hair or skin.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > absence of colour > [adjective] > causing loss of colour
discolouringa1657
decolouring1832
decolorizing1861
lightening1900
1900 ‘J. R. Stitson‘ Human Hair ix. 197 The application of bleaches and lightening washes.
1986 H. Kühn in R. L. Feller Artists' Pigments I. 172/2 Zinc white was added to various pigments by the manufacturer as a lightening agent.
2019 Sun (Nexis) 30 June (Features section) 26 The first time I bought a lightening cream, I was having a tough time. I was always made to feel I'd be prettier if my skin was lighter.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1a1382n.2c1425
adj.1592