v. [ME. brightn-en, corresp. in form to OE. *beorhtnian, in Northumbrian berhtnia, ʓeberhtnia to make bright, f. beorht bright. It is possible that the mod.Eng. word is a new formation on bright: cf. BRIGHT v.]
1. trans. To make bright.
[c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John xiii. 32. God ʓeberhtnade hine on hine scolfne.]
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 53. Thee strand flames fyrye doe brighten.
1685. Dryden, Sylvæ, 103 (J.).
| As her Celestial eyes | |
| Adorn the World, and brighten all the Skies. |
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, II. xxiv. When the dawn of day Began to brighten Cheviot gray.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. vi. Brightening London smoke itself into gold vapour.
b. fig.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iii. 17. There were two Honors lost … For Yours, may heauenly glory brighten it.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 634. Hope elevates, and joy Bright’ns his crest.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxvi. 354. This sort of talk brightened up the spirits of our party.
2. intr. To become bright; to be bright, shine. Often with up.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9933. Þat castel brightnes … Ouer al þat curt on lenght and brede.
1704. Pope, Past., Spring, 72. The flowers begin to spring, the skies to brighten.
1768. Beattie, Minstr., I. xxx. The rainbow brightens to the setting sun!
1819. Byron, Juan, II. lxxxix. The boy’s eyes … Brighten’d.
18[?]. Southey, Lodore, 58. And whitening and brightening.
b. In various fig. senses (see BRIGHT a.).
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 421. How the style brightens, how the sense refines.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. 183. The Man of Raillery … shall instantly brighten up, and assume a familiar Air.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 239. He brightens up and is wide awake when Homer is … recited.
