Obs. Forms: 1 aléoht-an, alýhtan, alíhtan, 2–3 aliht-en, alyht-en, 4 aliȝten, alyȝt-en, 4–7 alight(e, (7 adlight). Pa. t. 1–3 alíhte, etc., 3–4 aliȝte, 4–5 alight, 6–7 alighted. Pa. pple. 1 alihted, 2 aliht, 4–6 alight, 6–7 alighted. [Probably the two OE. verbs a-líhtan (? with A- pref. 1; cf. OHG. arliuhtan, mod.G. erleuchten) and on-líhtan (see A- pref. 2), both ‘to shine upon, light up,’ are here represented, if indeed the solitary OE. instance of alíhtan be not merely a later form of onlíhtan.]
1. To light, light up, illumine.
c. 1000. Ags. Metr. Ps. cxxxviii. (-ix.) 10. Þu þá onlíhtest niht, þæt heó byð dæʓe ʓelíc.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. i. I5. And hiʓ … alihton þa eorþan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 185. Þu … hauest aliht mi þester heorte.
1340. Ayenb., 109. Þet þe holy gost ous wille alyȝte þe herte.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 183. A fiery piller hem alight.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 550. To goe about with a tallow candle to helpe or adlight the sunne at his rising.
1634. Malory’s Arthur (1816), II. 216. They were alighted of the grace of the Holy Ghost.
2. To set light to, to light (a fire, etc.).
1340. Ayenb., 66. Huanne me alyȝt þet uer.
c. 1400. Lay le Freine, 199. Anon fer sche alight, And warmed it wele aplight.
1590. Eng. Rom. Life, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 183. When the schollers come they alight their lamps.
1620. Shelton, Don Quix. (R.). Having … alighted his lamp.
