lighten

English

/ˈlaɪ.tən/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
  • (intransitive) To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
  • (intransitive) To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
  • (transitive) To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
  • To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English lightnen suffix from English light (not heavy, lacking weight, not weighed down, ignite, very like, come, make less heavy, get down, same as, drop, illuminate, lacking weight mental gravity, shine, lacking mental gravity, weak, pale, bright, lighten, l, luminous, visible, little weight, make bright, dismount, unload).

Origin

English

light

Gloss

not heavy, lacking weight, not weighed down, ignite, very like, come, make less heavy, get down, same as, drop, illuminate, lacking weight mental gravity, shine, lacking mental gravity, weak, pale, bright, lighten, l, luminous, visible, little weight, make bright, dismount, unload

Concept
Semantic Field

The physical world

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

弱

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms