Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
lighten. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
lighten, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
lighten in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
lighten you have here. The definition of the word
lighten will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
lighten, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English lightnen, equivalent to light + -en.
Verb
lighten (third-person singular simple present lightens, present participle lightening, simple past and past participle lightened)
- (transitive) To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
- Synonym: light up
to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets
1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis, London: Henry Herringman, stanza 231, p. 59:A Key of fire ran all along the shore,
And lighten’d all the river with the blaze:
- (intransitive) To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
- (intransitive, now rare) To flash lightning, to give off lightning.
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals):[…] this dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion.
1986, Helen Garner, Yellow Notebook: Diaries 1978-1987, Text Publishing, published 2022, page 182:While we were in the Twins it began to thunder and lighten and pour with rain.
- (transitive) To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :[…] behold his eye,
As bright as is the eagle’s, lightens forth
Controlling majesty:
- (archaic) To illuminate with knowledge.
- Synonym: enlighten
1599, John Davies, “Of the Soule of man, and the immortalitie thereof”, in Nosce Teipsum. This Oracle Expounded in Two Elegies, London: John Standish, page 10:O Light which mak’st the Light, which makes the Day,
Which setst the Eye without and Mind within,
Lighten my spirit with one cleare heavenly ray,
Which now to view it selfe doth first begin.
Conjugation
Derived terms
Translations
to make brighter or clearer
to become light in weight
to become brighter or clearer
to flash lightning, to give off lightning
Etymology 2
From Middle English lightnen, equivalent to light + -en.
Verb
lighten (third-person singular simple present lightens, present participle lightening, simple past and past participle lightened)
- (transitive) To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.
- (transitive) To make light or lighter in weight.
- (transitive) To make less serious or more cheerful.
- (intransitive) To become light or lighter in weight.
- (intransitive) To become less serious or more cheerful.
Conjugation
Derived terms
Translations
to become light in weight
Etymology 3
From light + -en.
Verb
lighten (third-person singular simple present lightens, present participle lightening, simple past and past participle lightened)
- To descend; to light.
Related terms
Anagrams