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lightenmore about lighten

lighten

 

  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lighten  \Light"en\  (l[imac]t"'n),  v.  i.  [See  {Light}  to  alight.] 
  To  descend;  to  light. 
 
  O  Lord,  let  thy  mercy  lighten  upon  us  --Book  of 
  Common  Prayer 
  [Eng.  Ed.]. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lighten  \Light"en\,  v.  t.  [See  {Light}  not  heavy.] 
  1.  To  make  lighter,  or  less  heavy;  to  reduce  in  weight;  to 
  relieve  of  part  of  a  load  or  burden;  as  to  lighten  a  ship 
  by  unloading;  to  lighten  a  load  or  burden. 
 
  2.  To  make  less  burdensome  or  afflictive;  to  alleviate;  as 
  to  lighten  the  cares  of  life  or  the  burden  of  grief. 
 
  3.  To  cheer;  to  exhilarate. 
 
  Lightens  my  humor  with  his  merry  jests.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lighten  \Light"en\  (l[imac]t"'n),  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p. 
  {Lightened}  (-'nd);  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Lightening}.]  [OE. 
  lightenen.  See  {Light}  to  kindle,  illuminate.] 
  1.  To  burst  forth  or  dart,  as  lightning;  to  shine  with  or 
  like  lightning;  to  display  a  flash  or  flashes  of 
  lightning;  to  flash. 
 
  This  dreadful  night,  That  thunders,  lightens,  opens 
  graves,  and  roars  As  doth  the  lion.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  To  grow  lighter;  to  become  less  dark  or  lowering;  to 
  brighten;  to  clear,  as  the  sky. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lighten  \Light"en\,  v.  t.  [See  {Light}  to  illuminate.] 
  1.  To  make  light  or  clear;  to  light;  to  illuminate;  as  to 
  lighten  an  apartment  with  lamps  or  gas;  to  lighten  the 
  streets.  [In  this  sense  less  common  than  light.] 
 
  A  key  of  fire  ran  all  along  the  shore,  And  lightened 
  all  the  river  with  a  blaze.  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  To  illuminate  with  knowledge;  to  enlighten.  [In  this  sense 
  less  common  than  enlighten.] 
 
  Lighten  my  spirit  with  one  clear  heavenly  ray.  --Sir 
  J.  Davies. 
 
  3.  To  emit  or  disclose  in  or  as  in  lightning;  to  flash  out 
  like  lightning. 
 
  His  eye  .  .  .  lightens  forth  Controlling  majesty. 
  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  free  from  trouble  and  fill  with  joy. 
 
  They  looked  unto  him  and  were  lightened.  --Ps. 
  xxxiv  5. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lighten 
  v  1:  make  more  cheerful  [syn:  {buoy  up}]  [ant:  {weigh  down}] 
  2:  make  more  cheerful  [syn:  {buoy  up}] 
  3:  make  lighter  or  brighter;  "The  paint  will  brighten  the  room" 
  [syn:  {brighten},  {lighten  up}]  [ant:  {darken}] 
  4:  become  brighter;  "The  sky  brightened"  [syn:  {brighten}] 
  [ant:  {darken}] 
  5:  become  lighter;  "The  room  lightened  up"  [syn:  {lighten  up}]




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