Light Light transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lighted (-ĕd) or Lit (lĭt); present participle & verbal noun Lighting .] [ Anglo-Saxon lȳhtan , līhtan , to shine. √122. See Light , noun ] 1. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes with up .

If a thousand candles be all lighted from one.

Hakewill.

And the largest lamp is lit .

Macaulay.

Absence might cure it, or a second mistress
Light up another flame, and put out this.

Addison.

2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up .

Ah, hopeless, lasting flames ! like those that burn
To light the dead.

Pope.

One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds.

F. Harrison.

The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply
His absent beams, has lighted up the sky.

Dryden.

3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.

His bishops lead him forth, and light him on.

Landor.

To light a fire , to kindle the material of a fire.

Light Light intransitive verb 1. To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light .

2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up ; as, the room lights up very well.

Light Light adjective [ Compar. Lighter (-ẽr); superl. Lightest .] [ Middle English light , liht , Anglo-Saxon līht , leóht ; akin to Dutch ligt , German leicht , Old High German līhti , Icelandic lēttr , Danish let , Swedish lätt , Goth. leihts , and perhaps to Latin levis (cf. Levity ), Greek 'elachy`s small, Sanskrit laghu light. √125. ] 1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy.

These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand.

Addison.

2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.

Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light .

Matt. xi. 29, 30.

3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task. Chaucer.

Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.

Dryden.

4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.

5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.

6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.

Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away.

Bacon.

7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light .

8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. Shak.

9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.

10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.

11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.

12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.

13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light , vain person; a light mind.

There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion.

Tillotson.

14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.

Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light .

Shak.

Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful.

Hawthorne.

15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.

Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?

Shak.

16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.

To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.

Spenser.

17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.

A light wife doth make a heavy husband.

Shak.

18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.

19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.

Light cavalry , Light horse (Mil.) , light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses. -- Light eater , one who eats but little. -- Light infantry , infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions. -- Light of foot . (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet. -- Light of heart , gay, cheerful. -- Light oil (Chemistry) , the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene. -- Light sails (Nautical) , all the sails above the topsails, with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. Dana. -- Light sleeper , one easily wakened. -- Light weight , a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Confer Feather weight , under Feather . [ Cant] -- To make light of , to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard. -- To set light by , to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.

Light Light (līt) adverb Lightly; cheaply. Hooker.

Light Light transitive verb [ See Light not heavy, and confer Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.] To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. [ Obsolete]

From his head the heavy burgonet did light .

Spenser.

Light Light intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lighted (-ĕd) or Lit (lĭt); present participle & verbal noun Lighting .] [ Anglo-Saxon līhtan to alight, orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider's burden, to make less heavy, from līht light. See Light not heavy, and confer Alight , Lighten to make light.] 1. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from , off , on , upon , at , in .

When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Gen. xxiv. 64.

Slowly rode across a withered heath,
And lighted at a ruined inn.

Tennyson.

2. To feel light; to be made happy. [ Obsolete]

It made all their hearts to light .

Chaucer.

3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.

[ The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all.

Sir. J. Davies.

On the tree tops a crested peacock lit .

Tennyson.

4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon .

On me, me only, as the source and spring
Of all corruption, all the blame lights due.

Milton.

5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon ; formerly with into .

The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive.

Locke.

They shall light into atheistical company.

South.

And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth,
And Lilia with the rest.

Tennyson.

Light year Light year (Astron.) The distance over which light can travel in a year's time; -- used as a unit in expressing stellar distances. It is more than 63,000 times as great as the distance from the earth to the sun.

Light-armed Light"-armed` (-ärmd`) adjective Armed with light weapons or accouterments.

Light-boat Light"-boat` (-bōt`) noun Light-ship.

Light-fingered Light"-fin`gered (līt"fĭn`gẽrd) adjective Dexterous in taking and conveying away; thievish; pilfering; addicted to petty thefts. Fuller.

Light-foot Light"-foot` (-fot`), Light"-foot`ed adjective Having a light, springy step; nimble in running or dancing; active; as, light-foot Iris. Tennyson.

Light-handed Light"-hand`ed (līt"hănd`ĕd) adjective (Nautical) Not having a full complement of men; as, a vessel light-handed .

Light-headed Light"-head`ed (-hĕd`ĕd) adjective 1. Disordered in the head; dizzy; delirious. Walpole.

2. Thoughtless; heedless; volatile; unsteady; fickle; loose. " Light-headed , weak men." Clarendon.

-- Light"-head`ed*ness , noun

Light-hearted Light"-heart`ed (-härt`ĕd) adjective Free from grief or anxiety; gay; cheerful; merry. -- Light"-heart`ed*ly , adverb - - Light"-heart`ed*ness , noun

Light-heeled Light"-heeled` (-hēld`) adjective Lively in walking or running; brisk; light-footed.

Light-horseman Light"-horse`man (-hôrs`m a n) noun ; plural -men (- m e n).

1. A soldier who serves in the light horse. See under 5th Light .

2. (Zoology) A West Indian fish of the genus Ephippus , remarkable for its high dorsal fin and brilliant colors.

Light-legged Light"-legged` (līt"lĕgd`) adjective Nimble; swift of foot. Sir P. Sidney.

Light-minded Light"-mind`ed (-mīnd`ĕd) adjective Unsettled; unsteady; volatile; not considerate. -- Light"-mind`ed*ness , noun

Light-o'-love Light"-o'-love` (līt"o-lŭv`) noun 1. An old tune of a dance, the name of which made it a proverbial expression of levity, especially in love matters. Nares. "Best sing it to the tune of light-o'-love ." Shak.

2. Hence: A light or wanton woman. Beau. & Fl.

Light-ship Light"-ship` (līt"shĭp`) noun (Nautical) A vessel carrying at the masthead a brilliant light, and moored off a shoal or place of dangerous navigation as a guide for mariners.

Light-winged Light"-winged` (-wĭngd`) adjective Having light and active wings; volatile; fleeting. Shak.

Lightable Light"a·ble (-ȧ*b'l) adjective Such as can be lighted.

Lighte Light"e (līt" e ), obsolete imperfect of Light , to alight. Chaucer.

Lighten Light"en (līt"'n) intransitive verb [ See Light to alight.] To descend; to light.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.

Book of Common Prayer [ Eng. Ed.].

Lighten Light"en (līt"'n) intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lightened (-'nd); present participle & verbal noun Lightening .] [ Middle English lightenen . See Light to kindle, illuminate.] 1. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash.

This dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion.

Shak.

2. To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.

Lighten Light"en transitive verb [ See Light to illuminate.] 1. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets. [ In this sense less common than light. ]

A key of fire ran all along the shore,
And lightened all the river with a blaze.

Dryden.

2. To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [ In this sense less common than enlighten .]

Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.

Sir J. Davies.

3. To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.

His eye . . . lightens forth
Controlling majesty.

Shak.

4. To free from trouble and fill with joy.

They looked unto him, and were lightened .

Ps. xxxiv. 5.

Lighten Light"en transitive verb [ See Light not heavy.] 1. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.

2. To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.

3. To cheer; to exhilarate.

Lightens my humor with his merry jests.

Shak.

Lighter Light"er (līt"ẽr) noun One who, or that which, lights; as, a lighter of lamps.

Lighter Light"er noun [ Dutch ligter , from ligt light. See Light not heavy.] (Nautical) A large boat or barge, mainly used in unloading or loading vessels which can not reach the wharves at the place of shipment or delivery.

Lighter screw (Machinery) , a screw for adjusting the distance between the stones in a grinding mill by raising or lowering the bridgetree.

Lighter Light"er transitive verb To convey by a lighter, as to or from the shore; as, to lighter the cargo of a ship.

Lighterage Light"er·age (-aj; 48) noun 1. The price paid for conveyance of goods on a lighter.

2. The act of unloading into a lighter, or of conveying by a lighter.

Lighterman Light"er·man (-măn) noun ; plural Lightermen (-mĕn). A person employed on, or who manages, a lighter.

Lightful Light"ful (līt"ful) adjective Full of light; bright. [ R.] " Lightful presence." Marston.

Lighthouse Light"house` (-hous`) noun ; plural Lighthouses (-houz`ĕz). A tower or other building with a powerful light at top, erected at the entrance of a port, or at some important point on a coast, to serve as a guide to mariners at night; a pharos.

Lighting Light"ing noun (Metal.) A name sometimes applied to the process of annealing metals.

Lightless Light"less adjective Destitute of light; dark. Shak.

Lightly Light"ly adverb 1. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly ; to press lightly .

Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest,
And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast.

Pope.

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touched lightly .

Milton.

2. Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.

So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail.

R. of Brunne.

Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word.

Tennyson.

3. Without deep impression.

The soft ideas of the cheerful note,
Lightly received, were easily forgot.

Prior.

4. In a small degree; slightly; not severely.

At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her.

Is. ix. 1.

5. With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.

That lightly come, shall lightly go.

Old Proverb.

They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it.

Sir W. Scott.

6. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.

Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages.

Jer. Taylor.

7. Commonly; usually. [ Obsolete] Bp. Fisher.

The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown.

B. Jonson.

8. Without dejection; cheerfully. "Seeming to bear it lightly ." Shak.

9. Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.

Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly , or wantonly.

Book of Common Prayer [ Eng. Ed.].

10. Not chastely; wantonly. Swift.

Lightman Light"man (-măn) noun ; plural -men (-mĕn). A man who carries or takes care of a light. T. Brown.

Lightness Light"ness noun [ From Light not heavy.] The state, condition, or quality, of being light or not heavy; buoyancy; levity; fickleness; nimbleness; delicacy; grace.

Syn. -- Levity; volatility; instability; inconstancy; unsteadiness; giddiness; flightiness; airiness; gayety; liveliness; agility; nimbleness; sprightliness; briskness; swiftness; ease; facility.

Lightness Light"ness noun [ From Light bright.] 1. Illumination, or degree of illumination; as, the lightness of a room. Chaucer.

2. Absence of depth or of duskiness in color; as, the lightness of a tint; lightness of complexion.

Lightning Light"ning (līt"nĭng) noun [ For lightening , from lighten to flash.] 1. A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.

2. The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [ R.]

Ball lightning , a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth. -- Chain lightning , lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes. -- Heat lightning , more or less vivid and extensive flashes of electric light, without thunder, seen near the horizon, esp. at the close of a hot day. -- Lightning arrester (Telegraphy) , a device, at the place where a wire enters a building, for preventing injury by lightning to an operator or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also lightning discharger . -- Lightning bug (Zoology) , a luminous beetle. See Firefly . -- Lightning conductor , a lightning rod. - - Lightning glance , a quick, penetrating glance of a brilliant eye. -- Lightning rod , a metallic rod set up on a building, or on the mast of a vessel, and connected with the earth or water below, for the purpose of protecting the building or vessel from lightning. -- Sheet lightning , a diffused glow of electric light flashing out from the clouds, and illumining their outlines. The appearance is sometimes due to the reflection of light from distant flashes of lightning by the nearer clouds.

Lightning Light"ning (līt"nĭng) verbal noun Lightening. [ R.]

Lightroom Light"room` (-rōm`) noun A small room from which the magazine of a naval vessel is lighted, being separated from the magazine by heavy glass windows.

Lights Lights (līts) noun plural [ So called from their lightness .] The lungs of an animal or bird; -- sometimes coarsely applied to the lungs of a human being.

Lightsome Light"some (līt"sŭm) adjective 1. Having light; lighted; not dark or gloomy; bright.

White walls make rooms more lightsome than black.

Bacon.

2. Gay; airy; cheering; exhilarating.

That lightsome affection of joy.

Hooker.

-- Light"some*ly , adverb -- Light"some*ness , noun

Happiness may walk soberly in dark attire, as well as dance lightsomely in a gala dress.

Hawthorne.

Lightstruck Light"·struck` adjective (Photog.) Damaged by accidental exposure to light; light-fogged; -- said of plates or films.

Lightweight Light"weight` noun One of less than average weight; specif.: (a) In boxing, wrestling, etc., one weighingnot more than 133 pounds (U. S. amateur rules 135 pounds, Eng. 140 pounds). (b) A person of small impotance or mental ability. [ Colloq., Chiefly U. S.]

Lightweight Light"weight` adjective Light in weight, as a coin; specif., applied to a man or animal who is a lightweight.

Lightwood Light"wood` (-wod`) noun Pine wood abounding in pitch, used for torches in the Southern United States; pine knots, dry sticks, and the like, for kindling a fire quickly or making a blaze.

Lighty Light"y (-ȳ) adjective Illuminated. [ Obsolete] Wyclif.

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