lighten

lighten
lighten1
—lightener, n.
/luyt"n/, v.i.
1. to become lighter or less dark; brighten: The sky lightened after the storm.
2. to brighten or light up, as the eyes or features: Her face lightened when she heard the good news.
3. to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject): It thundered and lightened for hours.
4. Archaic. to shine, gleam, or be bright: steel blades lightening in the sun.
v.t.
5. to give light to; illuminate: A full moon lightened the road.
6. to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.): A large smile lightened his face.
7. to make lighter or less dark: Add white to lighten the paint.
8. Obs. enlighten.
9. Obs. to flash or emit like lightning (usually fol. by out, forth, or down): eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.
[1300-50; ME lightnen; see LIGHT1, -EN1]
lighten2
/luyt"n/, v.t.
1. to make lighter in weight: to lighten the load on a truck.
2. to lessen the load of or upon: to lighten a cargo ship.
3. to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate: to lighten taxes; to lighten someone's cares.
4. to cheer or gladden: Such news lightens my heart.
v.i.
5. to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up: Border inspections have lightened recently.
6. to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.: His worries seem to have lightened somewhat.
7. to become less gloomy; perk up: People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.
[1350-1400; ME lightnen; see LIGHT2, -EN1]
Syn. 3. ease, lessen, reduce.
Ant. 3. aggravate.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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.] [1913 Webster] A key of fire ran all… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To make less burdensome or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lighten — [v1] illuminate become light, brighten, flash, gleam, illume, irradiate, light, light up, make bright, shine; concept 624 Ant. blacken, darken, dim, dull lighten [v2] reduce weight, load allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assuage, attenuate, buoy,… …   New thesaurus

  • Lighten — Light en (l[imac]t n), v. i. [See {Light} to alight.] To descend; to light. [1913 Webster] O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us. Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.]. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lighten — (someone s)/the load to make a difficult or upsetting situation easier to deal with. Anyway, we ll be getting a temp in next month to do some of this work so that should lighten your load …   New idioms dictionary

  • lighten# — lighten vb *illuminate, illumine, light, enlighten, illustrate Antonyms: darken lighten vb alleviate, mitigate, *relieve, assuage, allay Analogous words: lessen, reduce, diminish, *decrease, abate: *moderate, temper, qualify: attenuate, extenuate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • lighten — Ⅰ. lighten [1] ► VERB 1) make or become lighter in weight. 2) make or become less serious. Ⅱ. lighten [2] ► VERB ▪ make or become brighter …   English terms dictionary

  • lighten — lighten1 [līt′ n] vt. [ME lightnen] 1. to make light or bright; illuminate 2. to make light or pale 3. to cause to flash in or as in lightning: with out or forth 4. Archaic to give knowledge to; enlighten vi. 1 …   English World dictionary

  • Lighten — Light en (l[imac]t n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Lightened} (l[imac]t 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lighten — index abate (lessen), allay, alleviate, attenuate, commute, diminish, ease, extenuate …   Law dictionary

  • lighten up — verb 1. make lighter or brighter The paint will brighten the room • Syn: ↑brighten, ↑lighten • Ant: ↑darken (for: ↑brighten) • Hypern …   Useful english dictionary

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