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light |
15 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), n. [OE. light, liht, AS le['o]ht; akin to OS lioht, D. & G. licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuha[thorn], Icel. lj[=o]s, L. lux light, lucere to shine, Gr leyko`s white, Skr. ruc to shine. [root]122. Cf {Lucid}, {Lunar}, {Luminous}, {Lynx}.] 1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous. Note: Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles per second but it is now generally understood to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other advocated by Newton (but long since abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory of light. 2. That which furnishes, or is a source of light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc Then he called for a light, and sprang in --Acts xvi. 29. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. --Gen. i. 16. 3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day especially, the dawn of day The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. --Job xxiv. 14. 4. The brightness of the eye or eyes. He seemed to find his way without his eyes; For out o' door he went without their helps, And to the last bended their light on me --Shak. 5. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions. There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. --I Kings vii.4. 6. Life; existence. O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born! --Pope. 7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light. --Shak. 8. The power of perception by vision. My strength faileth me as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me --Ps. xxxviii 10. 9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information. He shall never know That I had any light of this from thee. --Shak. 10. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily. --Is. lviii 8. 11. (Paint.) The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; -- opposed to {shade}. Cf {Chiaroscuro}. 12. Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as to state things fairly and put them in the right light. Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance. --South. 13. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as the lights of the age or of antiquity. Joan of Arc, A light of ancient France. --Tennyson. 14. (Pyrotech.) A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as a Bengal light. Note: Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind. {Ancient lights} (Law), {Calcium light}, {Flash light}, etc See under {Ancient}, {Calcium}, etc {Light ball} (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to afford light; -- sometimes made so as to be fired from a cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket. {Light barrel} (Mil.), an empty powder barrel pierced with holes and filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to light up a ditch or a breach. {Light dues} (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses. {Light iron}, a candlestick. [Obs.] {Light keeper}, a person appointed to take care of a lighthouse or light-ship. {Light money}, charges laid by government on shipping entering a port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and light-ships. {The light of the countenance}, favor; kindness; smiles. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us --Ps. iv 6. {Northern lights}. See {Aurora borealis}, under {Aurora}. {To bring to light}, to cause to be disclosed. {To come to light}, to be disclosed. {To see the light}, to come into the light; hence to come into the world or into public notice; as his book never saw the light. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), a. [AS. le['o]ht. See {Light}, n.] [Compar. {Lighter} (-[~e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] 1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as the apartment is light. 2. White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a deep shade; moderately colored; as a light color; a light brown; a light complexion. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lighted} (-[e^]d) or {Lit} (l[i^]t); p. pr & vb n. {Lighting}.] [AS. l[=y]htan, l[=i]htan, to shine. [root]122. See {Light}, n.] 1. To set fire to to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes with up If a thousand candles be all lighted from one --Hakewill. And the largest lamp is lit. --Macaulay. Absence might cure it or a second mistress Light up another flame, and put out this --Addison. 2. To give light to to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up Ah hopeless, lasting flames ! like those that burn To light the dead. --Pope. One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds. --F. Harrison. The sun has set and Vesper, to supply His absent beams, has lighted up the sky. --Dryden. 3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light. His bishops lead him forth, and light him on --Landor. {To light a fire}, to kindle the material of a fire. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (-[~e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS l[=i]ht, le['o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let Sw l["a]tt, Goth. leihts and perh. to L. levis (cf. {Levity}), Gr 'elachy`s small Skr. laghu light. [root]125. ] 1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy. These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. --Addison. 2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as a light burden, or load. Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. --Matt. xi 29, 30. 3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as a light affliction or task. --Chaucer. Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. --Dryden. 4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as light food; also containing little nutriment. 5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as light troops; a troop of light horse. 6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence active; nimble; swift. Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away --Bacon. 7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as the ship returned light. 8. Slight; not important; as a light error. --Shak. 9. Well leavened; not heavy; as light bread. 10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as a light rain; a light snow; light vapors. 11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as a light wind. 12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon hence having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as a light touch; a light style of execution. 13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as a light, vain person; a light mind. There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. --Tillotson. 14. Indulging in or inclined to levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial. Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. --Shak. Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful. --Hawthorne. 15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy. Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ? --Shak. 16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered. To a fair semblance doth light faith annex. --Spenser. 17. Wanton; unchaste; as a woman of light character. A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak. 18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as light coin. 19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as a light soil. {Light cavalry}, {Light horse} (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses. {Light eater}, one who eats but little. {Light infantry}, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions. {Light of foot}. a Having a light step. b Fleet. {Light of heart}, gay, cheerful. {Light oil} (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene. {Light sails} (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails, with also the studding sails and flying jib. --Dana. {Light sleeper}, one easily wakened. {Light weight}, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Cf {Feather weight}, under {Feather}. [Cant] {To make light of}, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard. {To set light by}, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\, v. i. 1. To become ignited; to take fire; as the match will not light. 2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up as the room lights up very well From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), adv Lightly; cheaply. --Hooker. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\, v. t. [See {Light} not heavy, and cf {Light} to alight, and {Lighten} to make less heavy.] To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off [Obs.] From his head the heavy burgonet did light. --Spenser. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Light \Light\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Lighted} (-[e^]d) or {Lit} (l[i^]t); p. pr & vb n. {Lighting}.] [AS. l[=i]htan to alight, orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider's burden, to make less heavy, fr l[=i]ht light. See {Light} not heavy, and cf {Alight}, {Lighten} to make light.] 1. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from off on upon at in When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. --Gen. xxiv. 64. Slowly rode across a withered heath, And lighted at a ruined inn. --Tennyson. 2. To feel light; to be made happy. [Obs.] It made all their hearts to light. --Chaucer. 3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect. [The bee] lights on that and this and tasteth all --Sir. J. Davies. On the tree tops a crested peacock lit. --Tennyson. 4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon On me me only, as the source and spring Of all corruption, all the blame lights due. --Milton. 5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon formerly with into The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive. --Locke. They shall light into atheistical company. --South. And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth, And Lilia with the rest. --Tennyson. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Wine \Wine\, n. [OE. win, AS win, fr L. vinum (cf. Icel. v[=i]n; all from the Latin); akin to Gr o'i^nos, ?, and E. withy. Cf {Vine}, {Vineyard}, {Vinous}, {Withy}.] 1. The expressed juice of grapes, esp. when fermented; a beverage or liquor prepared from grapes by squeezing out their juice, and (usually) allowing it to ferment. ``Red wine of Gascoigne.'' --Piers Plowman. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. --Prov. xx 1. Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape Crushed the sweet poison of misused wine. --Milton. Note: Wine is essentially a dilute solution of ethyl alcohol, containing also certain small quantities of ethers and ethereal salts which give character and bouquet. According to their color, strength, taste, etc., wines are called {red}, {white}, {spirituous}, {dry}, {light}, {still}, etc 2. A liquor or beverage prepared from the juice of any fruit or plant by a process similar to that for grape wine; as currant wine; gooseberry wine; palm wine. 3. The effect of drinking wine in excess; intoxication. Noah awoke from his wine. --Gen. ix 24. {Birch wine}, {Cape wine}, etc See under {Birch}, {Cape}, etc {Spirit of wine}. See under {Spirit}. {To have drunk wine of ape} or {wine ape}, to be so drunk as to be foolish. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {Wine acid}. (Chem.) See {Tartaric acid}, under {Tartaric}. [Colloq.] {Wine apple} (Bot.), a large red apple, with firm flesh and a rich, vinous flavor. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pilot lamp \Pilot lamp\ or light \light\ . (Elec.) A small incandescent telltale lamp on a dynamo or battery circuit to show approximately by its brightness the voltage of the current. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Cockshut \Cock"shut`\, n. A kind of net to catch woodcock. [Obs.] --Nares. {Cockshut time} or {light}, evening twilight; nightfall; -- so called in allusion to the tome at which the cockshut used to be spread. [Obs.] --Shak. B. Jonson From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Incandescent \In`can*des"cent\, a. [L. incandecens -entis, p. pr of incandescere to become warm or hot; pref. in- in + candescere to become of a glittering whiteness, to become red hot, incho. fr candere to be of a glittering whiteness: cf F. incandescent. See {Candle}.] White, glowing, or luminous, with intense heat; as incandescent carbon or platinum; hence clear; shining; brilliant. Holy Scripture become resplendent; or as one might say incandescent throughout. --I. Taylor. {Incandescent lamp} or {light} (Elec.), a kind of lamp in which the light is produced by a thin filament of conducting material, usually carbon From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: light adj 1: of comparatively little physical weight or density; "a light load"; "magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C" [ant: {heavy}] 2: (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent; "light blue"; "light colors such as pastels" [ant: {dark}] 3: of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment; "light infantry"; "light cavalry"; "light industry"; "light weapons" [ant: {heavy}] 4: not great in degree or quantity or number; "a light sentence"; "a light accent"; "casualties were light"; "light snow was falling"; "light misty rain"; "light smoke from the chimney" [ant: {heavy}] 5: psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles; "a light heart" [ant: {heavy}] 6: characterized by or emitting light; "a room that is light when the shutters are open"; "the inside of the house was airy and light" [ant: {dark}] 7: used of vowels or syllables; pronounced with little or no stress; "a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable"; "a weak stress on the second syllable" [syn: {unaccented}, {weak}] 8: easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned; "a light diet" 9: (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency; "light sandy soil" [syn: {friable}, {sandy}] 10: (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; "efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings"; "clear laughter like a waterfall"; "clear reds and blues"; "a light lilting voice like a silver bell" [syn: {clean}, {clear}, {unclouded}] 11: moving easily and quickly; nimble; "the dancer was light and graceful"; "a lightsome buoyant step"; "walked with a light tripping step" [syn: {lightsome}, {tripping}] 12: demanding little effort; not burdensome; "light housework"; "light exercise" 13: of little intensity or power or force; "the light touch of her fingers"; "a light breeze" [ant: {heavy}] 14: (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average; "light water is ordinary water" [ant: {heavy}] 15: weak and likely to lose consciousness; "suddenly felt faint from the pain"; "was sick and faint from hunger"; "felt light in the head"; "a swooning fit"; "light-headed with wine"; "light-headed from lack of sleep" [syn: {faint}, {swooning}, {light-headed}] 16: very thin and insubstantial; "thin paper"; "flimsy voile"; "light summer dresses" [syn: {flimsy}] 17: marked by temperance in indulgence; "abstemious meals"; "a light eater"; "a light smoker"; "ate a light supper" [syn: {abstemious}, {light(a)}] 18: less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so "a light pound"; "a scant cup of sugar"; "regularly gives short weight" [syn: {scant(p)}, {short}] 19: having little importance; "losing his job was no light matter" 20: intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound; "light verse"; "a light comedy" 21: silly or trivial; "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter" [syn: {idle}] 22: having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened; "light pastries" 23: designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight; "light aircraft"; "a light truck" 24: having relatively few calories; "diet cola"; "light (or lite) beer"; "lite (or light) mayonnaise"; "a low-cal diet" [syn: {diet(a)}, {lite}, {low-cal}] 25: (of sleep) easily disturbed; "in a light doze"; "a light sleeper"; "a restless wakeful night" [syn: {wakeful}] 26: casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; "her easy virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"; "wanton behavior" [syn: {easy}, {loose}, {promiscuous}, {sluttish}, {wanton}] n 1: (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; "the light was filtered through a soft glass window" [syn: {visible light}, {visible radiation}] 2: any device serving as a source of visible light; "he stopped the car and turned off the lights" [syn: {light source}] 3: a particular perspective or aspect of a situation; "although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand" 4: the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light; "its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun" [syn: {luminosity}, {brightness}, {luminance}, {luminousness}] 5: an illuminated area; "he stepped into the light" 6: a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination; "follow God's light" [syn: {illumination}] 7: the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures; "he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark" [syn: {lightness}] 8: a person regarded very fondly; "the light of my life" 9: having abundant light or illumination: "they played as long as it was light" or "as long as the lighting was good" [syn: {lighting}] [ant: {dark}] 10: mental understanding as an enlightening experience; "he finally saw the light"; "can you shed light on this problem?" 11: brightness and animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in his eye" [syn: {sparkle}, {spark}] 12: public awareness; "it brought the scandal to light" 13: a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul [syn: {Inner Light}, {Light}, {Light Within}, {Christ Within}] 14: a visual warning signal; "they saw the light of the beacon"; "there was a light at every corner" 15: a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; "do you have a light?" [syn: {lighter}, {igniter}, {ignitor}] adv : with few burdens; "experienced travellers travel light" [syn: {lightly}] v 1: make lighter or brighter; "This lamp lightens the room a bit" [syn: {illume}, {illumine}, {light up}, {illuminate}] 2: begin to smoke; "After the meal, some of the diners lit up" [syn: {light up}, {fire up}] 3: to come to rest, settle: "Misfortune lighted upon him." [syn: {alight}, {perch}] 4: cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat; "great heat will ignite paper"; "Light a cigarette" [syn: {ignite}] [ant: {extinguish}] 5: fall to somebody by assignment or lot: "The task fell to me"; "It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims" [syn: {fall}] 6: get off (a horse) [syn: {unhorse}, {dismount}, {get off}, {get down}] From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: LIGHT LIfecycle Global HyperText. A project in the CERN ECP/TP group whereby documents resulting from the {software life cycle} are available as {hypertext}. (1995-02-03) From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Light the offspring of the divine command (Gen. 1:3). "All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light" (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Col. 1:12; Rev. 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1 Tim. 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Matt. 5:16; John 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2; Luke 2:32; John 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" (James 1:17). It is used of angels (2 Cor. 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (John 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14).
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