Forms: 1 líhtan, lýhtan, léhtan, 3 lihte(n, liȝten, 3–4 liht, lyht, 4 liȝt, lyȝt, lith, 4–5 liȝte, 4–6 lyght, Sc. licht, lycht, 5 lyghte, leyȝt, lyhte, lyȝte, 5–6 lighte, 6–7 lite, 8–9 dial. leet, 4– light. Pa. t. α. 1 líhte, 2–3 lihte, 4 liht, lyht(e, lyȝte, licte, north. licht, 4–5 liȝt(e, lyȝt, lyghte, 4–8 light, 5 leyt, 5–6 lyght, 8–9 dial. leet. β. 4 lihtid, lited, lithed, liȝtid, 4–6 Sc. lichtit, lychtit, -yt, 5–6 lyghted(e, 4– lighted; 7– lit. Pa. pple. α. 3–5 liȝt, 4 lyȝt, liht, y-lyeght, 5 lyght, 5–8 light. β. 5 y-lyghted, -id, 5–6 lyghted, 6 lyȝthed, 8 lited, 6– lighted; 8– lit. Also 7 lighten. [OE. líhtan = OFris. lichta, MDu. liichten (Du. lichten), OHG. (gi)lîhten (MHG. lîhten, mod.G. leichten, now rare; also lichten, Naut. from Du.), ON. létta:—OTeut. type *līhtjan, *liŋhtjan, f. *līhto-, *liŋhto-, LIGHT a.1 The senses in branch II app. originate in an absol. use of the vb. in sense 2 (‘to relieve a horse or vehicle of one’s weight’); cf. ON. létta to dismount, halt on a journey.]
I. To lighten.
† 1. trans. To make light, lessen the weight of. Also fig. to reduce; to mitigate, assuage. Obs.
c. 1000. in Narrat. Angl. Conscrip. (Cockayne), 8. Ða wolde ic minne þurst lehtan.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 214. Thou shalte lyght the trauaillis of thy baronage.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 304/1. Lyghtyn chargys or byrdenys, deonero. Ibid., Lyghteyn, or make wyghtys more esy (P. lightyn burdens, heuy weightis) allevio.
1552. Huloet, Lyghten or make easye, læuigo, leuo.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 34. We finde the same [bone] here, and there, attenuated, and lighted with long lynes, and flatted sides.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 67. Nor backward skewd I myn eyesight, In graue of holy Ceres tyl that my burden I lighted.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Sonn., li. 6. Vhilk slaiks my sorou … And lights my louing largour at the leist.
2. To relieve of a (material) load or burden; to unload (a ship). Also, to ‘relieve’ (a person) of his property by plundering. ? Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 422. Ȝe schulen beon i-dodded four siðen iðe ȝere, uorto lihten ower heaued.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 160. To lyȝten þat lome, ȝif leþe wolde schape.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 624. Thar schip thai lychtyt sone.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 34. They can not … containe or draw any moore, tyll they be lighted and dischargyd of that that is drawen already.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 42. Where we must land some of our passengers, And light this weary vessell of her lode.
1623. Bingham, Xenophon, 127. Tereus … was lighted of all his baggage by these men.
1637. B. Jonson, Sad Sheph., I. ii. The wash’d Flocks are lighted of their wooll.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XI. 208. Many a car, now lighted of its lord.
1756. in R. Rogers’s Jrnls. (1883), 51, note. They saw a schooner at anchor some distance from ye shore … and, upon this intelligence, lighted our boats and intended to board them.
b. To deliver of a child. Now dial.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 79. Þat þe lace of oure ladie smok liȝteþ hem of children.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), vi. 71. Where oure Lady rested hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xiii. 337. I shall say thou was lyght Of a knaue childe this nyght.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 339. Leuynge his wyfe with hir modyr tyll she were lyghted of chylde.
1542. Will of R. Slanye (Somerset Ho.). Yf … she be lighted of a childe wherwt she goeth nowe.
1774. Churchw. Acc. Norton & Lenchwick, Worcestersh. (MS.), Pd Mrs. Sanders for liting Ben Turner wife.
1886. Chesh. Gloss., s.v., Is your wife lighted?
† 3. To relieve (of pain, sorrow, etc.); to comfort, gladden, cheer (a person, his heart, etc.). Obs.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 186. Þicge þæt seofon niht, þonne liht þæt þone ʓeswencedan maʓan.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 375. Liȝten him of his birdene.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 356. Worp awei urom me alle mine gultes, þet ich beo ilihted of hore heuinesse.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5727. He light þam o þair wa.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 467. Venus, The whiche I prey … vs ay of oure sorwes lyghte.
1388. Wyclif, Isa. ix. i. The lond of Zabulon and the lond of Neptalym was releessid [v.rr. aliȝted, liȝtid].
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2814. I shall lefe & be lightyd; þarfore be ȝe light.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, xl. 249. Of oþeris charge þou art lyȝthed.
c. 1470. Henryson, Mor. Fab., Prol. iii. Ane mery sport To licht the spreit.
1473. M. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 77. Ye have lyghtyd myne hert therin by a pound.
1529. More, Dyaloge, II. Wks. 1171/1. A merye tale wyth a frende, refresheth a manne muche, and … lyghteth his mynd.
1530. Palsgr., 611/2. This tydynges lyghteth me well.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 10/1. She voyded matter, by the which she seemed to be lighted and easyed.
† b. intr. Of the heart: To grow light or cheerful. Of sickness: To be alleviated. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5163. Þan bigan his ert to light.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 388. It was so fair a sighte That it made alle hire hertes for to lighte.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. xxii. (Tollem. MS.). In þe dawenynge siknesse of bestes lyȝteþ [ed. 1535 is lyghted] and abateþ.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5255. Sire Alexander hire a-vises & all his hert liȝtis.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xiii. 138. Me thynk my hart lyghtys.
† 4. trans. To make of less effect, deprive of weight or influence. Also Sc., to slight, undervalue.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. viii. § 2 (1622), 56. Though he were very witty … yet by his inconstancy, he lighted his authority [L. levatur authoritas].
1822. Galt, Entail, III. viii. 8. When the Laird lights the Leddy, so does a’ the kitchen boys.
5. a. Naut. (trans. and absol.) (See quot. 1867.)
1841. R. H. Dana, Seaman’s Man., 114. Light, to move or lift anything along; as, to ‘Light out to windward!’ that is, haul the sail over to windward.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 45. The men on the yard … light out on their respective sides.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Light, To. To move or lift anything along; as ‘light over to windward,’ the cry for helping the men at the weather-earing when taking in a reef. Light along! Lend assistance in hauling cables, hawsers, or large ropes along, and lifting some parts in a required direction.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 132. All … light the sail out to windward together.
b. ? Hence to light out (U.S. slang): to decamp, ‘make tracks.’
1884. ‘Mark Twain,’ Huck. Finn, i. 2. And so when I couldn’t stand it no longer, I lit out.
1888. Cornh. Mag., Oct., 373. He may light out for the country, railing West to a young city still on the boom.
1890. A. A. Hayes, in Century Mag., Feb., 525/2. We ’ll light out an’ find your brother.
II. To descend. Cf. ALIGHT v.1
6. intr. To descend from a horse or vehicle; to dismount; to bring one’s ride to an end. Also with off, down, adown (arch.). † Sometimes conjugated with to be.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. xvi. [xxii.] (1890), 228. He … lyhte of his horse & feoll him to fotum.
c. 1205. Lay., 5862. Lihteð of eowre blanken and stondeð on eowre sconken.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3256. Biside a well he lighted [Gött. lithed, Trin. liȝt] dun.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIV. 121. The erll of Murreff … Lichtit on fut with his menȝhe.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 130. The knyght … Reynit his palfray of pride, Quhen he ves lightit doune.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IX. iii. They haue desdayne … to lyghte of their horses to fyghte with suche a lewde knyght as thou arte.
a. 1592. Greene, Orpharion (1599), 19. Set a Begger on horsebacke, and they say he will neuer light.
1596. Danett, trans. Comines (1614), 188. All the nobilitie of Fraunce lighted on foot to fight with the English men.
1691. J. Wilson, Belphegor, III. i. Dram. Wks. (1874), 330. Sir, the company are now lighting at door!
a. 1766. Mrs. F. Sheridan, Mem. Sidn. Biddulph, V. 175. I immediately lit off my horse.
1813. Byron, Giaour, 587. Stern Hassan … from his horse Disdains to light.
1868–70. Morris, Earthly Par., I. 158. While from the horse he lit adown.
† b. trans. (causal) To light (down): to cause to descend; to help to dismount. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22020. He sal þam smett, and dun þam light.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 214. Þat is luf paramour … Þat has me liȝte [Thornton MS. gerse me lyghte and lenge] and laft loȝ in a lake.
† 7. Of persons: To descend, go down from a high place or to a low one. Often in ME. used to describe the Incarnation and the Descent into Hell. Occas. refl. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 79. A mon lihte [L. descendebat] from ierusalem into ierico.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 32. Vre louerd is te leun, ðe liueð ðer abuuen;… him likede to liȝten her on erðe.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2494. Te engles lihten of heuene & heuen hire on heh up.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 217. He lihte in to helle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20531. I lighted doun and man be-cam.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 73. For sunful folk, suete Jesus, Thou lihtest from the heȝe hous.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 240. Ihesu cryste on a iewes douȝter alyȝte [MS. W. liȝte], gentil woman þough she were.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xv. 68. How … Godd sent wisdom in til erthe and lightid in Virgin Mary.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 164 (Douce MS.). Withe lucyfer in a lake loȝ am I lighte.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. vii. 115. He will lyght fro heuen towre ffor to be mans saueyoure.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 54. The angel said to the virgine maria ye halie spreit sal licht in the.
† b. To light low: to be brought to the ground; to be degraded or humiliated. Obs.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1011. Leaf þi lease wit þæt tu wlenchest te in & liht to ure lare.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 5. Þat fram se muchel hehschipe & se seli freodom schal lihte se lahe.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 3340. Wel louwe he dede hem liȝt Wiþ diolful dintes sare.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2362. Ȝit liȝt he law at þe last for all his lethire prid.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 395. Scho makis ane man rycht lawlie for to lycht, Quhome of befoir scho set so hir on hicht.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xxiv. 64. Law sall he lycht downe.
† 8. fig. To descend, emanate, proceed. Const. from, of. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 96. Ȝif eni mon bit fort iseon ou, askeð of him hwat god þerof muhte lihten.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1791. Te hali gast, hare beire luue, þe lihteð of ham baðe [sc. the Father and the Son].
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 599. Of þe lyfe þat he liȝt off he like was to nane. Ibid., 4494. Ilk lede þat liȝt is of ȝour lede.
9. To fall and settle on a surface, as a bird, a snowflake, a person leaping upon the ground, or the like. Also with down. Phr. to light on one’s feet or legs (fig.): to be fortunate or successful (cf. FALL v. 64 h, LEG sb. 2 c).
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 132. Brid … uorte sechen his mete … lihteð adun to þer eorðe.
c. 1250. Hymn to Virgin, 26, in Trin. Coll. Hom., App. 256. Þu ert eorþe to gode sede, on þe liȝte þe heouene deuȝ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1896. Sco [sc. the dove] … fand na sted quare-on to light [Gött. lith]. Ibid., 11612. Quen iesus sagh þam glopnid be, He lighted of his moder kne.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 988. I syȝe … Ierusalem so nwe & ryally dyȝt, As hit was lyȝt fro þe heuen adoun.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., clxxvii. A turture … vpon my hand gan lyght.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, lix. 158. That egle that lighted amonge the hepe of swannes.
1530. Palsgr., 611/1. Loke welle where yonder fesante lyghteth.
a. 1541. Wyatt, Poet. Wks. (1831), 109. It is possible … to fall highest, yet to light soft.
a. 1584. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 463. Luik quhair to licht before thou loup.
1592. Warner, Alb. Eng., VIII. xxxix. (1612), 193. Snow, that lights & lies a moysture moystles.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. i. 244. If he must down, he seeks to fall easily, and if possible, to light on his legs.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 182. Th’ arch fellon … overleap’d all bound Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within Lights on his feet.
1759. Brown, Compl. Farmer, 95. If the swarms part, and light in sight of one another.
1828. Scott, Jrnl., 6 March. A feather just lighted on the ground can scarce be less concerned where the next blast may carry it.
1832. Tennyson, Œnone, 102. On the tree-tops a crested peacock lit.
1852. Thackeray, Lett., 23 Dec. I have made scores of new acquaintances and lighted on my legs as usual.
1871. L. Stephen, Playgr. Eur., iv. (1894), 97. You made a … spring, and lighted upon another rock.
10. To have a particular place of incidence or arrival. a. Of a blow, a weapon: To fall and strike; to fall (short, etc.). Now rare.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xix. (Cristofore), 657. Ane arow done cane lycht & rewyt þe king of ane ee-sycht.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., III. xxi. 218. His arowe lighte upon caym and slew hym.
1532. Cranmer, Lett. to Hen. VIII., in Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.), II. 234. If the stroke [of an halberd] had not light short.
a. 1550[?]. in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 305. Fra he begyn to schute his schot, Thow wat nocht quhen that it will licht.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 18. The stroke upon his shield so heavie lites.
1604. Rowlands, Looke to It, 41. There flies my Dart, light where it will.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 173. I reck not, so it [Revenge] light well aim’d.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 155, ¶ 2. But why in the Heel?… Because, says I, the Bullet chanced to light there.
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, II. 277. Some of the blows had light upon Lord Somerfort’s head and face.
1855. Stanley, Mem. Canterb., ii. (1857), 76. The sword lighted on the arm of the monk, which fell wounded.
† b. To come to or arrive in a place; to lodge in some position; to arrive at a point; to fall into a condition; to fall or ‘land’ in a particular place or position. Obs.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in Cott. Hom., 249. Ha [i.e., Death] lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 47. And on a þursday þedyr he lyȝt Wyþ hys dycyplys aȝens nyȝt.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 247. I am forpayned, & þou in a lyf of lykyng lyȝte In paradys erde.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4785. Quare it [the fire] líȝt on his like it lichid him for euire.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13686. A longyng vnlefful light in his hert.
1545. Brinklow, Compl., i. (1874), 8. If ye wil seke such ways, than wil the Holy Gost lyght in your councel.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. v. Sette the one foote of the compas in the pricke, where you would haue the plumme line to lighte.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron. (1807–8), III. 37. Let us drinke togither in signe of agreement, that the people … may … know that it is true, that we be light at a point.
1627. Lisander & Cal., III. 54. Lidian … entring with a point upon his enemy, lighted just betweene his arme and the curats [= cuirass].
1629. Drayton, Verses, 11, in Sir J. Beaumont’s Bosworth F., 14. We are light, After those glorious Days, into the Night Of these base Times.
1651. T. Barker, Art of Angling (1653), 8. The Pearch feeds well, if you light where they be.
1697. J. Sergeant, Solid Philos., a 2. To make you aware of the way you have either chosen, or light into for want of a better.
c. To light on, upon: to fall or descend upon, as a piece of good or ill fortune, or the like; to descend upon the head of; to fall to the lot of, to be the ‘portion’ of: occas. conjugated with to be, as in the ME. phrase my love is light upon (a person). † Also, rarely, to happen to a person.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 30. Levedi … My love is on the liht.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 213. With þis worde þat he warp, þe wrake on hym lyȝt.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 523. My love is leliche y-lyeght One a worthly wyeght.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxiii. 36. All these thinges shall light apon this generacion.
1556. Lauder, Tractate, 149. Quhat wo and miserie Sall lycht on ȝow.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1595), 236. Honour and reputation lighting on yong men before their time.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 366. But I do prophesie th’ election lights On Fortinbras.
1607. E. Sharpham, Cupid’s Whirligig, II. D 3 b. The plague of Egypt light vppon you all.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xxv. 233. The best livings light not alwayes on the ablest men.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 833. On mee … all the blame lights due.
1697. J. Sergeant, Solid Philos., 447. ’Tis evident, that this Eternal Loss of Happiness lights to such Men thro’ their acting contrary to their Reason.
1720–1. Lett. Mist’s Jrnl. (1722), II. 111. The Infamy and Reward must then have light on their Heads.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Ireland, iii. 56. A final and overwhelming curse had lighted upon the land.
d. Of persons. To light on or upon (or † of): to happen to come upon, chance upon; to meet with or discover, esp. unexpectedly or by accident; to come across, whether as the result of search or not.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 1068. Ner hand … thai lychtyt apon Clyd.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Sept., 259. Diggon on fewe such freends did euer lite.
1583. Babington, Commandm., viii. (1637), 82. Where may we live and not light of false forgers.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 109. Making spoile of whatsoever they light upon.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., II. (1701), 62/1. Not taking heed to the place, he lighted upon a precipice and fell down.
1659. Fuller, App. Inj. Innoc., I. 34. I thought he had lighten on some rare Evidence, out of the ordinary road.
1687. Sedley, Bellamira, IV. i. Wks. (1766), 162. If I light of him I’ll tear his goatish eyes out.
1738. Wesley, Wks. (1830), I. 38. I called at Alringham, and there lit upon a Quaker.
1779. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 16 Oct. How did you light on your specifick for the tooth-ach?
1839–41. S. Warren, Ten Thous. a Year, I. i. 7. His eye lit on his ring.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, I. iv. 76. He … opened it [a Bible] like at a chance, and was sure to light of a verse … that set all straight.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. App. (1876), 547. I have as yet only once lighted on the use of the word in the singular.
e. To come or fall into a person’s hands; to chance into a person’s company. Now rare or Obs.
1562. Cooper, Answ. Priv. Masse, Pref. One of the Copies of this answere by occasion, as it fortuned … lighted into my hands.
1651. trans. De-las-Coveras’ Don Fenise, 75. The letters which Teodore had sent were read, the which light in her hands unknowne to her father.
1672. Marvell, Corr., ccv. Wks. 1872–5, II. 405. Upon Thursday last I accidentally did light into Sir Philip Frowd’s company.
1684–5. South, Serm. (1823), I. 221. A man by mere peradventure lights into company.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Briery Creek, iv. 77. A philosopher suddenly lighting in an infant community instead of having grown up out of it.
f. To turn out (well, happily); also simply, to fall out, happen, occur. Now dial.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Beauty (Arb.), 212. Beautie … for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a litle out of countenance: But yet certainlie againe if it light well, it maketh vertues shyne, and vices blushe.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Oxford (1840), III. 6. To return to our English proverb, (‘He looks as the devil over Lincoln’) it is conceived of more antiquity than either of the fore-named colleges, though the secondary sense thereof lighted not unhappily, and that it related originally to the cathedral church in Lincoln.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., To Rdr. Wks. (1862), 34. Let’t leet heaw’t will.
1790. Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial. (1821), 62. Haw leet it preia, dud it ivver run oway afore?
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, VII. ii. Whatever lights, we will stand together.
III. † 11. intr. The analogy of the phrase ‘to light from a horse’ (see 6) suggested the use of the same vb. with preps. of opposite meaning to express the notion antithetic to this. Hence arose the sense: To mount on horseback, into the saddle, etc. Obs.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 3355. Wrothely in-to hys sadylle he lyght.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 36. Soo lyghted anone on horsebak the goode duke Aymon.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXV. (Percy Soc.), 178. I toke my leave and on my stede I lyght.
c. 1555. Machyn, Diary (Camden), 54. He lycted be-hynd a gentleman unto the cowrte.
1570. Levins, Manip., 119/28. To Light on horse, ascendere.
