lighten

Definitions

1. 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. 2.To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense less common than enlighten.] Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray. Sir J. Davies.
5. 5.To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning. His eye . . . lightens forth Controlling majesty. Shak.
6. 6.To free from trouble and fill with joy. They looked unto him, were lightened. Ps. xxxiv.
7. 7.1. 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.
8. 8.To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.
9. 9.To cheer; to exhilarate. Lighens my humor with his merry jests. Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "lighten" mean?
• What is another word for "lighten"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is lighten.

• What is to grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky called?
• What is to illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense less common than enlighten.] Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray. Sir J. Davies called?
• What is to emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning. His eye . . . lightens forth Controlling majesty. Shak called?
• What is to free from trouble and fill with joy. They looked unto him, were lightened. Ps. xxxiv called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is to make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief called?
• What is to cheer; to exhilarate. Lighens my humor with his merry jests. Shak called?