Obs. Forms: 1 léohte, 3 liht(e, 4–5 liȝt(e, 5 lighte, lyth, 4– light. [OE. léohte (= OHG. liohto, MHG. liehte), f. léoht LIGHT a.2] Brightly, clearly.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 1239 (Gr.). Þæt hy fore leodum leohte blicaþ.
971. Blickl. Hom., 127. [Leohtfatu] leohte & beorhte scinaþ ælce niht.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 43. Euch heate of þe hali gast þat bearneð se lihte wiðute wastinde.
c. 1275. XI Pains of Hell, 68, in O. E. Misc., 149. A hwel of stele is furþer mo And berneþ lihte and turneþ o.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 33. In uche londe heo leometh liht.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 199. These walles of berile … shoone ful lyghter than a glas.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 485. With fel lans on loft, lemand ful light.
14[?]. Lydg., Siege Harfleur, in Arb., Garner, VIII. 12. With men of arms that lyth did leme.
c. 1710. C. Fiennes, Diary (1888), 137. Its [sc. coal] in great pieces and so Cloven burns light so as the poorer sort works by it.
Comb. a. 1400–50. Alexander, 553. Þe liȝt lemand late laschis fra þe heuyn.
