| 释义 |
▪ I. light, n.|laɪt|
Forms: 1–2 léoht, 1 líoht, Anglian lē̆ht, 2–3 leocht, 2–5 liht, (4 lyht), 3–4 lict, lit(t, lijt, 3–5 liȝt(e, lyȝt, (liȝht, lyȝhte, lyȝght), lith, 4 lyth(e, 4–6 lyght(e, (5 lyghth, 6 lyghtt), Sc. lycht, (4 lyicht), 4, 6 lyte, (4 ? leyt, 6 lytt), 5 leght, 2–3, 4– Sc. licht, 3– light.
[OE. léoht str. neut. (later lĕoht, Anglian lē̆ht, early ME. lĭht) corresponds to OFris. liacht, OS. lioht (Du. licht), OHG. lioht (MHG. lieht, mod.G. licht):—OTeut. *leuhtom:—pre-Teut. *leuktom (also *leukotom, whence Goth. liuhaþ; for the suffix cf. naked a.), f. Aryan root *leuk- to shine, be white. (Not in ON., which has instead a parallel formation on the same root, liós:—*leuhs-.) According to some scholars, the n. is the neuter of the adj. *leuhto- light a.2; on this view the primary sense would be ‘that which is bright’.
The Aryan root *leuk- (: *louk-: *lū̆k-) is represented in a great number of words. In Teut., besides the words mentioned above and their derivatives, there are those mentioned under lait v., leam n.1, leye; also OE. líxan to lighten. Outside Teut. the root appears in Skr. ruc to shine, rṓcas, rōcís neut., brightness, rukma shining, Gr. λευκός white, λεύσσειν to see, L. lūx, lūmen light, lūcēre to shine, lūna (:—*louknā) moon, OIrish lón, lúan moon, lóche lightning, Welsh llûg light, lluched lightning, lleufer (OWelsh louber) light, OSl. luča beam of light.]
1. That natural agent or influence which (emanating from the sun, bodies intensely heated or burning, and various other sources) evokes the functional activity of the organ of sight.
a. Viewed as the medium of visual perception generally. Also, the condition of space in which light is present, and in which therefore vision is possible. Opposed to darkness.
c1000ælfric Gen. i. 3 God cwæð þa: ᵹeweorðe leoht, and leoht wearð ᵹeworht. c1250Gen. & Ex. 44 Al was ðat firme ðrosing in niȝt, Til he wit hise word made liȝt. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. xxviii. (1495) 339 Lyghte shedyth itselfe fro the hyghest heuen anone to the mydle of the worlde. c1460Towneley Myst. i. 23 Darknes from light we parte on two. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 674 Light and lust are deadlie enemies. 1671Milton Samson 90 Since light so necessary is to life. 1679Dryden Troilus & Cr. iv. ii, Now shine, sweet moon! let them have just light enough to make their passes. 1756Burke Subl. & B. xxi. xiv, All colours depend on light. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. vi. 45 Beyond a certain intensity..light ceases to be light, and becomes mere pain.
b. Viewed as being itself an object of perception, cognized by means of the specific visual sensation indicated by the use of words like ‘bright’, ‘shining’, etc. Also, in particularized sense, an individual shining or appearance of light.
For northern, southern lights (= aurora Borealis, Australis), zodiacal light, see the adjs.
Beowulf 727 Him of eaᵹum stod liᵹe ᵹelicost leoht unfæᵹer. a1100O.E. Chron. an. 789 (Laud MS.) Heofenlic leoht [MS. F. lioht] wæs ᵹelome seoᵹen ðær þer he ofslaᵹen wæs. a1225Leg. Kath. 1594 Swuch leome & liht leitede þrinne. c1300Havelok 588 She saw þer-inne a lith ful shir, Also brith so it were day, Aboute þe knaue þer he lay. 1567J. Maplet Gr. Forest 3 A Gem..in whose Centre..a certaine light is seene shining..like to the Moone. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. v. i. 89 That light we see is burning in my hall. 1634Milton Comus 340 With thy long levell'd rule of streaming light. 1846Ruskin Mod. Paint. II. iii. i. v. §4 Whatever beauty there may result from effects of light on foreground objects. 1847Tennyson Princess iv. 3 The long light shakes across the lakes. 1866M. Arnold Thyrsis xvii, And in the scatter'd farms the lights come out.
c. Viewed as residing in or emanating from a luminary. Phr. to give light (said of a luminary).
c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxiv. 29 Se mona hys leoht ne sylð. a1300Cursor M. 1771 Sun and mone had tint þair light. 1340–70Alex. & Dind. 122 His [the sun's] lem on þe loft liȝht ȝaf aboute. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 163 Chastite withouten Charite.. Is as lewed as a Laumpe þat no liht is inne. 1530Tindale Answ. More 24 The air is dark of itself, & receiveth all her light of the sun. 1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 22 On the top stode a goodly Bekon gevyng light. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 125 What Torch is yond that vainely lends his light To grubs and eyelesse Sculles? 1634Milton Comus 199 And fill'd their Lamps With everlasting oil, to give due light To the misled and lonely Travailer. 1716Pope Iliad viii. 688 As when the Moon..O'er Heav'ns pure Azure sheds her sacred Light. 1814Scott Wav. ii, The sun..poured..its chequered light through the stained window.
d. In scientific use.
The word light has been used in six special senses: (a) the thing (variously conceived as matter or energy) which is communicated from a luminous body to the body illuminated by it; (b) this thing regarded as producing sensation; (c) the sensation produced; (d) the process (variously conceived as rectilinear motion of corpuscles, undulatory motion of the ether, or periodic change of electrical and magnetic states) by which the communication is made; (e) certain characteristics of such processes (rays or waves); (f) physical energies and processes of the same type as those involved in the production of vision, but having possibly a different range of periods (e.g. Röntgen rays). The sense (c) (rare in actual use, though not uncommonly expressed in definitions) agrees with an occasional use of the word in popular language: we should, e.g., usually apply the name light to the sensation experienced when the optic nerve is excited mechanically without the intervention of a luminous body. In the sense (d) the word light is equivalent to the process of transmission of light; in the sense (e) it is equivalent to rays of light or waves of light.
(a)1704Newton Opticks i. 18 The Light of the Sun consists of Rays differently refrangible. 1811A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) p. xxxvi, Light is a substance consisting of very subtle particles which are constantly emanating in straight lines from luminous bodies. 1876Tait Rec. Adv. Phys. Sci. iii. (ed. 2) 66 It necessarily followed that light is a form of energy.
(b)1704Newton (title) Opticks: or, a Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflections and Colours of Light. 1807T. Young Lect. Nat. Philos. II. 629 Radiant Light consists in Undulations of the luminiferous Ether.
(c)1800Herschel in Phil. Trans. XC. 295 Light, both solar and terrestrial, is a sensation occasioned by rays emanating from luminous bodies.
(d)1875W. K. Clifford in Fortn. Rev. XVII. 785 Thus light is described as a vibration and such properties of light as are also properties of vibrations are thereby explained.
(e)1900J. Larmor Aether & Matter xii. 205 Waves of high period (much higher however than ordinary light).
(f)1865Maxwell in Phil. Trans. CLV. 466 We have strong reason to conclude that light itself including radiant heat, (and other radiations if any), is an electromagnetic disturbance in the form of waves. 1897S. P. Thompson (title) Light visible and invisible.
e. The portion or quantity of light which comes through a window, or which is otherwise regulated so as to illuminate a given space. in a good (or bad) light: situated so as to be clearly visible (or the reverse).
In the early 17th c. false lights or deceiving lights are often mentioned as a kind of trickery practised by shopkeepers. See, e.g. a1616Beaum. & Fl. Phylaster v. iii. (1620) 58; a 1626Middleton Wom. beware Wom. ii. ii. (1657) 120 and Anyth. for quiet Life ii. ii. (1662) C 3 b.
a1533Ld. Berners Huon clxiii. 643 Other wyndowes there were..the whiche gaue great lyght into the house. 1625Bacon Ess. Building (Arb.) 551 A double House, without Thorow Lights, on the Sides. 1658W. Sanderson Graphice 26 Place your best Pieces, to be seen with single lights. Ibid. 61 Choose your Light Northwards towards the East, one single Light only, great and fair, without any reflection of Trees or Walls. 1797Holcroft tr. Stolberg's Trav. (ed. 2) II. xlii. 69 The picture..is in a bad light. 1854Thackeray Newcomes xvii, Bed-rooms where Lady Betty has had her hair powdered, and where the painter's north-light now takes possession of the place which her toilet-table occupied a hundred years ago.
f. in light: exposed to rays of light, lighted up.
1847Tennyson Princess Concl. 41 The happy valleys, half in light and half Far-shadowing from the west.
g. one's light: the ordinary measure of light which a person enjoys, or expects to enjoy, for seeing around him. to stand in a person's light = to cut him off from the enjoyment of it; hence this and similar phrases are used fig. to express injury done to a person's interests; so to stand (Sc. also to sit) in one's own light. † to lay in (a person's) light: to bring as an objection against.
c1386Chaucer Miller's T. 210 Bycause that he fer was from hir sighte, This nye Nicholas stood in his lighte. 1528More Dialogue Heresyes iv. Wks. 252/1 He could shewe a fayre law,..which lawe if it wer laied in their light that would take vpon them the defence of any worship to be done to ymages, would make al theyr eyen dase. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) II. 73 We sat ouir far into oure awin licht. 1538Bale God's Promises v. 21 What tho' fearce Pharao wrought myschef in thy syght, He was a pagan, lay not that in our lyght. 1546J. Heywood Prov. ii. iv. Wks. (1562) G ij, How blindly ye stand in your owne light. 1601Dent Pathw. Heaven 222 They [the wicked] be much their owne foes, and stand in their owne light. 1633B. Jonson Tale Tub ii. i, Take a vool's Counsel, and do not stand in your own light. 1637Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 226 And do we not sit far in our own light, to make it a matter of bairn's play. 1848Dickens Dombey xxxix, To take away the character of a lad that's been a good servant to you, because he can't afford to stand in his own light for your good. 1856Reade Never too Late lxx, Don't stand in the poor girl's light. Mod. colloq. Please move a little farther that way; you are in my light.
h. A gleam or sparkle in the eye, expressive of animated feeling or the like.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1378 And dying eyes gleem'd forth their ashie lights. 1833H. Coleridge Song, ‘She is not fair’ 10, I cease not to behold The love-light in her eye. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxix, He was followed by Cassy, pale, calm..and with that same fearful light in her eye. 1893Pall Mall Mag. Christm. No. 249 He had..an eye without light, a voice without charm.
i. to put out or quench (one's) light: to extinguish his ‘vital spark’.
1604Shakes. Oth. v. ii. 10–13. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Maid's Trag. iv. i. (1619) G 4 b, Evad. You will not murther me? Mel. No, tis a iustice and a noble one, To put the light out of such base offenders. 1810Scott Lady of L. iii. xi, Quench thou his light, Destruction dark! 1866‘Mark Twain’ Lett. from Hawaii (1967) 152 The sick Portyghee watched his chance..harnessed the provisions and ate up nearly a quarter of a bar'l of bread before the old man caught him, and he had more than two notions to put his lights out. 1891Star 10 Feb. 3/6 He had been heard to say, ‘I should like to put her light out,’ and had fired at her bed-room window. 1910W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor 25 Mebbe I'd a-put his lights out for good and all. 1935A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 92/2 Put his lights out, to kill. 1955‘A. Gilbert’ Is she Dead Too? vii. 133 Say she put out the old girl's light, that ain't going to encourage the widower to pay his addresses to her.
j. pl. [after L. lumina.] Graces of style. rare—1.
1710Addison Tatler No. 267 ⁋4 Bacon..had the..comprehensive Knowledge of Aristotle, with all the beautiful Lights, Graces, and Embellishments of Cicero.
k. fig. light of one's eye(s: applied to a loved object.
a1000Juliana 95 Ðu eart dohtor min..minra eaᵹna leoht. 1636Massinger Gt. Dk. Florence iv. ii, She was the light of my eyes, and comfort of My feeble age. 1841Lane Arab. Nts. I. 108 O my beloved! O light of mine eye.
l. the light of God's countenance: in Ps. iv. 6, etc. = Divine favour. In allusion to this, the light of (a person's) countenance is often sarcastically used for: (his) sanction, approving presence.
1890Hall Caine Bondman i. i, Count Trollop was in Iceland at this celebration of the ancient festival, and he was induced by Jorgen to give it the light of his countenance.
2. spec. The illumination which proceeds from the sun in day-time; daylight. Also, the time of daylight; day-time, day-break. (Usually the light. Also the light of day.)
c1000Ags. Ps. (Th.) lxxvii. 33 ær leohte [L. ante lucem]. c1020Rule St. Benet viii. (Logeman) 37 Onginnendum leohte [L. incipiente luce]. a1175Cott. Hom. 233 Hwat deð si moder hire bearn, formes hi hit cheteð and blissið be þe lichte. a1300Cursor M. 14195 Qua has to wenden ani wai, God es to go bi light o dai. c1300Proverbs of Hending xxxvi. in Salomon & Sat. (1848) 279 Drynk eft lasse, and go by lyhte hom, quoþ Hendyng. a1340Hampole Psalter cxviii. 148 As a goed werk man þat rysis bifor light til his werk. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 138 Lyke as the precyous stone, the more it is polyshed or rubbed, the more perfytly it receyueth the lyght. a1600Montgomerie Misc. P. v. 26 All day I wot not what to do, I loth to sie the licht. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 613 Their Morning Milk, the Peasants press at Night: Their Evening Meal before the rising Light To Market bear. Ibid. iv. 274 Then having spent the last Remains of Light, They give their Bodies due Repose at Night. 1813Sir H. Davy Agric. Chem. (1814) 230 Plants grow vigorously only when supplied with light. 1860–1F. Nightingale Nursing 59 Almost all patients lie with their faces turned to the light exactly as plants always make their way towards the light. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 134 The appointed hour was approaching when man in his turn was to go forth into the light of day.
b. In the asseverative phrase by this (good) light. Also by God's light: see god 14 a and 'slight. arch.
c1510Interl. Four Elem. (Percy Soc.) 23 Thou art a mad gest, be this lyght! 1599Shakes. Much Ado v. iv. 93 Come, I will haue thee, but by this light I take thee for pittie. 1610― Temp. ii. ii. 147 By this good light. 1625Fletcher Noble Gent. v. i, Beau. Catcht, by this light! 1821Scott Kenilw. iv, By this light, Anthony, thou art mad.
c. to see the light, to come into the world; to be brought forth or published. Now also, to reach a full understanding or realization; to be converted (esp. to Christianity).
a1687Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) Ded., Had not the Doctrins offended France, they had long since seen the light. 1705Hearne Collect. 20 July (O.H.S.) I. 10 He is resolv'd it [a book] shall see y⊇ Light. 1752Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 175 As soon as the helpless infant sees the light. 1812Niles' Reg. III. 195/2 It is indispensably necessary that every man should ‘see the light’. 1889Kansas City (Missouri) Times & Star 14 Oct., Up to a few weeks ago, he was opposed to a revival of navigation on the Missouri, but now he has seen the light and says he's for it strong. 1903N.Y. Even. Post 10 Sept., It is altogether likely that they, too, will see the light before another week has passed. 1933H. G. Wells Shape of Things to Come iii. iv. 275 Men who saw the light and spoke were only one species of a larger genus of human beings whose minds worked differently from the common man's. 1944H. James et al. (song-title) I'm beginning to see the light. 1966‘L. Lane’ ABZ of Scouse 94 See ther light, to plead guilty or to reform.
3. The state of being visible or exposed to view. to come to light (in early use † in, on light): to be revealed, disclosed, made visible or made known. to bring (rarely † put) to light (cf. F. mettre en lumière): to reveal, make known, publish.
a1000Elene 1123 (Gr.) Nu is in leoht cymen, onwriᵹen wyrda bigang. a1300Cursor M. 15892 He drogh him bak behind þe men Wald he noght cum in light. 1535Coverdale Ezek. xvi. 57 When thou wast in thy pryde, and before thy wickednesse came to light. 1549T. Some Latimer's 7 Serm. Ep. Ded. (Arb.) 19, I haue gathered, writ, and brought into lyght the famous fryday sermons of Mayster Hugh Latimer. 1567Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.) 44 Thairby it sall cum to lycht That ze ar my Disciples rycht. 1597Morley Introd. Mus. Ded., It is necessary for him who shall put to light any such thing as this is, to choose such a patron [etc.]. 1611Bible Job xxviii. 11 The thing that is hid, bringeth he foorth to light. 1643Declar. Comm., Reb. Irel. 57 Their devillish designes and devices are come to light, and brought to our Knowledge. 1765Parsons in Phil. Trans. LV. 48 A worthy family who..had lived in Virginia several years in a conspicuous light. 1870Max Müller Sci. Relig. (1873) 285 Everybody wished..to bring to light some of the treasures. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 224 Its history is shrouded in the darkness which surrounds all the doings of its Earl till he breaks forth into full light in the course of the next year. 1891Law Times XCII. 18/2 Another defect in the Rules of Court 1883 has come to light.
4. Power of vision, eyesight (now poet. or rhet.). Also pl. = the eyes (now only slang).
971Blickl. Hom. 19 Gehyran we nu forwhon se blinda leoht onfeng. Ibid. 21 Se blinda..bæd his eaᵹena leohtes. c1250Meid Maregrete 42 Nis no tonge an erþe ne non eyen litt Ðat mai telle þe ioie. 1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 340 Hir eyes hasill, yet bright, and such were the lyghtes of Venus. 1599Broughton's Let. vii. 21 The weakning of his [Samson's] strength lost his libertie and his light. 1607Wilkins Mis. Enforced Marr. ii. D 1 b, Lift vp thine eyes..They were not borne to loose their light so soone. 1815Sporting Mag. XLV. 161 He mill'd the stout Caleb and darken'd his lights. 1883R. W. Dixon Mano i. xii. 38 His ministers with point of piercing sword Put out my light for ever.
5. A body which emits illuminating rays.
a. The sun or other heavenly body (after Gen. i. 16).
c1000Sax. Leechd. III. 234 On ðam feorðan dæᵹe ᵹesceop God twa miccle leoht, þæt is sunne and mona. c1460Towneley Myst. i. 21 Make we heuen & erth..and lyghtys fayre to se. 1574Bourne Regiment for Sea ix. (1577) 34 b, You may knowe it by the Arke or bearing of the Starres and lyghtes rounde about you. 1608Shakes. Per. ii. iii. 41 And hee the Sunne for them to reuerence; None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights, Did vaile their Crownes to his supremacie. 1819J. Wilson Dict. Astrol., Lights, the luminaries. 1871R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxii. 26 Hesper, shineth in heaven a light more genial ever?
b. An ignited candle, lamp, gas-jet, or the like. Hence wax lights = wax candles for lighting (now rare in this use: cf. 14 b); bright lights: see bright a. 10 b; lights out (Mil.): the last bugle-call of the day, giving the signal for all lights to be extinguished. Hence in non-military use.
c1000ælfric Hom. (Th.) I. 150 We sceolan on ðisum dæᵹe beran ure leoht to cyrcan, and lætan hi ðær bletsian. a1400–50Alexander 4231 Many liȝtis of a liȝt is liȝtid othire-quile. c1420St. Editha 1276 (Horstm.) Þis mayde toke hit [sc. þe cerge] þo from þat place & blewe ouȝt þe leyȝt anone sodanly. c1449Pecock Repr. ii. vi. 169 Sette liȝtis or laumpis bifore hem [images]. 1537Bury Wills (Camden) 128, I wyll have a lyte brynnyng yn the chansell before the sacrement. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 207 b, In this chamber was hanged a great braunche of silver percell gilte, to beare lightes. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 673 This said, he sets his foote vppon the light. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. xxxiii. 301 Both rich and poor vse this tallowe for lightes. 1849James Woodman ii, The lights were lighted in a large, comfortable, well-furnished room. 1861C. Reade Cloister & H. lvii. (1896) 174 A Tuscan noble promised ten pounds of wax lights to our lady of Ravenna. 1868Queen's Regulations Army §845 Between tattoo and reveille no trumpet or bugle is to be sounded,..with the exception of the call ‘lights out’. 1888Pall Mall G. 23 July 6/2 The common practice of seeking for an escape of gas with a light caused a serious explosion yesterday morning. 1905Captain XIII. 42/2 It's off... We aren't allowed to talk after lights-out! 1914R. Brooke Let. 3 Oct. (1968) 621 Faint lights burning through the ghostly tents, and a distant bugler blowing Lights Out. 1922C. E. Montague Disenchantment iv. 56 They would argue after Lights Out. 1942R.A.F. Jrnl. 13 June 14 There would be no lights-out time, no check-up to ensure every man was in. 1950A. Baron There's no Home ii. 19 The wooden gates..could be closed every evening at Lights Out. 1965G. Jackson Let. June in Soledad Brother (1971) 78 One of those tall ultrabright electrical fixtures used to illuminate the walls and surrounding area at night casts a direct beam of light in my cell at night... Consequently I have enough light, even after the usual twelve o'clock lights-out, to read or study by. 1969I. & P. Opie Children's Games viii. 246 The statues have to come to life, and do the things they think monsters or fairies..would do... The puller then commands ‘Lights out’..and they have to close their eyes.
c. collect. The candles or other illuminants used to light a particular place; lights collectively. † Also, material to be burnt for lighting.
a1023Wulfstan Hom., Sermo Lupi (Napier) 308 Godes cyrcan..mid leohte and lacum hy ᵹelome ᵹegretan. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7806 Vor me ne miȝte no chirchegong wiþoute liȝte do. c1300Havelok 576 Grim bad Leue bringen lict, For to don on his cloþes. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 317 An hondred mark to Seynt Peter his liȝt. 1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 7 Eueri quarter for to meyntene þe liȝt & þe almesse of þe broþerhede .iij.d. 1430E.E. Wills (1882) 85 To our lady lyght, vjd... Item to seint Mergret lyght, iiijd. c1449Pecock Repr. ii. vi. 170 Forto knele and preie and bere liȝt and sette up candelis bifore an ymage. c1470Henry Wallace ii. 281 Scho gert graith wp a burd..honowryt with gret lycht. 1520Carpenters' Accts. in Sharp Cov. Myst. (1825) 186 Payd for lyght for the Cressetts xd. 1561Ibid., For carryinge ij cressites and iij stone of lyght..ijs. 1609Skene Reg. Maj., Stat. Robt. I, 27 b, Lands given and disponed for singing, or for licht in the kirk.
d. A signal-fire or beacon-lamp, esp. on a ship or in a lighthouse; often with prefixed qualification as fixed light, flashing light, intermittent light, revolving light. Hence, used for the lighthouse itself.
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xi. 155 In the beginning of the night the Admiralls light failed so, as the other shippe never see them after. 1790Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. 253 On the evening of the 3rd of April, Sir Edward ‘made the light’ of the Baleines on the Isle of Rhée. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. Introd. 5 The original lantern for the light was of a diameter somewhat exceeding five feet. 1793,1858[see floating light]. 1798Coleridge Anc. Mar. vi. xxi, They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light. 1850A. Stevenson Treat. Lighthouses i. 106 The succession of red and white lights is caused by the revolution of a frame whose different sides present red and white lights... The flashing light is produced in the same manner as the revolving light. Ibid. 107 The intermittent light is distinguished by bursting suddenly into view, and continuing steady for a short time, after which it is suddenly eclipsed for half a minute... This distinction, as well as that called the flashing light, is peculiar to the Scotch coast. 1863Murray's Handbk. Kent & Sussex 157 The wall, like that of its sister light at Gessoriacum.., is composed of [etc.]. 1894A. Robertson Nuggets 44 Revealing the object he was in search of, as a harbour light reveals the port. 1896A. E. Housman Shropsh. Lad lix, Black towers above the Portland light The felon-quarried stone.
†e. A linkman. Obs.
1712Steele Spect. No. 454 ⁋7, I went to my Lodging, led by a Light,..and made him give me an Account of the Charge [etc.].
f. out like a light (with preceding verb or auxiliary): having lost consciousness, having fainted, or gone to sleep, at once.
1934[see go v. 87 u]. 1956B. Holiday Lady sings Blues (1973) xix. 155 When it came time to come out for the third curtain call I said, ‘Bobby, I just can't make it no further,’ and I passed out like a light. 1964R. Braddon Year Angry Rabbit ii. 17 The Prof's out like a light. 1970Women's Household July 10/3 That first night he came dashing in the house, made a running leap at the couch, and was out like a light! 1973J. Philips Larkspur Conspiracy i. iv. 75 He..lay down on his bed. He went out like a light.
g. Usu. pl. Traffic lights. Also fig.
1938E. Bowen Death of Heart iii. vi. 439 The driver twitched his head once or twice. Then the lights went against him; he pulled up. 1963A. Hunter Gently Floating ii. 29 They came to the bridge, were halted by lights... The lights changed. Gently drove over. 1970M. Kenyon 100,000 Welcomes i. 8 I'll drop you at the next lights. 1971Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 22 Oct. 7/2 That's right, you bumbling old fool, slow down as we come to the next lights and we'll miss the green. 1972Accountant 19 Oct. 495/1 Stock markets have been in neutral waiting for the lights to change.
6. Used fig. with reference to mental illumination or elucidation.
a. In phrases, as to give (carry, bring) light († to or into a subject). Also to get or receive light. Now usually to throw (cast, shed) light upon. † to have need of light, to need explanation.
c1449Pecock Repr. i. iii. 16 Ech man having to do with suche questiouns mai soone se that Holi Writt ȝeueth litil or noon liȝt therto at al. 1559W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 127 This carde should seme to giue a great light and knowledge vnto Nauigation. 1581Lambarde Eiren. i. ix. (1602) 42 The Salutation of the Queene is but a Catologue of all the names of the Iustices, and contayneth nothing that hath neede of light. 1657–8Burton's Diary (1828) II. 423, I have received great light from him, and hope for much more. c1680Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 116 Thus I have given you what light I could into both these expressions. 1696Whiston Theory Earth ii. (1722) 102 This Matter will..give light and strength to some of the former Testimonies. 1706Hearne Collect. 19 Jan. (O.H.S.) I. 165 Mr. Hugh Broughton..had ye chief Hand and gave light to yt Work. 1719De Foe Crusoe ii. xi. (1840) 235 Can you give me no further light into it? 1732Berkeley Alciphr. iv. §2 Arguments..which carry light have their effect, even against an opponent who shuts his eyes. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §192, I was very desirous to get some light into some of the sensible qualities, that might probably occasion the difference. 1841Carlyle On Heroes v. 309 When he did speak, it was to throw new light on the matter. 1855Bain Senses & Int. i. ii. §10 (1864) 38 The experimental enquiries of recent years have thrown much light upon this obscure and mysterious subject. 1860Adler Fauriel's Prov. Poetry xvi. 351 It is on these antecedents that I shall first endeavor to shed some light. 1884D. Hunter tr. Reuss's Hist. Canon iv. 57 The various aberrations of heresy are well suited for casting some light on the history of the canon.
b. Illumination or enlightenment, as a possession of the mind, or as derivable from some particular source. light of nature, the capacity given to man of discerning certain divine truths without the help of revelation.
1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 134 Thes maner thynges a man may not do wythout wysdome and vndyrstondynge and lyght of connynge. 1595Shakes. John iv. iii. 61 We had a kinde of light, what would ensue. 1599[Cartwright] Christian Let. 7 Yet you infer that the light of nature teacheth some knowledge naturall whiche is necessarie to saluation. 1630Prynne God No Impostor 12 It is a greater good or happinesse then man by all the light of Art or Nature can attaine vnto. 1669Bunyan Holy Citie 195 These words do, in my present Light, point [etc.]. 1710Berkeley Princ. Hum. Knowl. §72 If we follow the light of reason. 1732― Alciphr. i. §2 Having spread so much light and knowledge over the land. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 191 The men of England, the men, I mean, of light and leading in England. 1821Lamb Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers, Lovel..was a quick little fellow, and would despatch it [business] out of hand by the light of natural understanding. 1852H. Rogers Ecl. Faith (1853) 108 That is the point on which I want light! 1871Morley Condorcet in Crit. Misc. Ser. i. (1878) 87 Less read through⁓out Europe by men of superior light. 1894Jessopp Random Roaming, etc., iv. 145 The Rector..doing his duty according to his light as a country parson.
c. pl. (a) Pieces of information or instruction; facts, discoveries, or suggestions which explain a subject. (b) The opinions, information, and capacities, natural or acquired, of an individual intellect. (Cf. F. lumières.) Often in phr. according to (one's) lights.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 125 He hath his suggestyons, felynges, & lyghtes. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 217 We may entertaine some lights out of authentique Story. 1683Temple Mem. Wks. 1731 I. 387, I had long Conversations with the Pensioner, by which I gain'd the Lights necessary to discover the whole present Scene of Affairs. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. vii. 354 The Governor..might be expected to give us the best lights for avoiding this perplexity. 1793W. Roy Milit. Antiq. Rom. Brit. Introd., Many new lights concerning the Roman history and geography of Britain. 1831Brewster Newton (1855) II. xxi. 262 The most distinguished of his successors, with all the lights of a century and a half, could not have stated more correctly [etc.]. 1861Thackeray Four Georges iii. (1876) 83 He did his best; he worked according to his lights. 1867Trollope Chron. Barset II. lvii. 140 He trusted that Grace would understand this by her own natural lights. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 503 We may love and honour the intentions of these excellent people, as far as their lights extend. 1879Trollope Thackeray 112 To Pen and to Pen's mother he is beneficent after his lights.
d. new light(s: novel doctrines (esp. theological and ecclesiastical) the partisans of which lay claim to superior enlightenment; hence by antithesis old light(s, the traditional doctrines to which the ‘new lights’ are opposed. Also attrib. as in new light, old light men, teachers, doctrines, etc., whence New Lights, Old Lights, as designations for persons holding ‘New Light’ and ‘Old Light’ views.
In Scotland the appellations New Lights, Old Lights (Sc. Auld Lichts) have been current in two different applications: (a) as occasional names for the Moderate and the Evangelical party in the Established Church (so used e.g. by Burns); (b) as the usual popular names for the two bodies into which the Associate (or Burgher) Synod was divided in 1799, and the two into which the General Associate (or Antiburgher) Synod was divided in 1806; in each case the ‘Old Light’ minority (adhering to the ‘covenanted reformation’ and to the principle of a national church) formed themselves into a separate presbytery, and in 1842 the few remaining Old Light Burghers and Old Light Antiburghers joined to form the Synod of United Original Seceders, to which the name ‘Auld Lichts’ is still frequently applied.
1650T. Hubbert Pill Formality 67 Those that dare even in their Pulpits, mock, and cry out against new lights. 1659Bp. Walton Consid. Considered 176 Give greater occasion to those, who brag of their new lights,..to reject all Scripture as useless. c1665South Serm. 1 Kings xiii. 33 Serm. (1715) 151 Against which New Lights, sudden Impulses of the Spirit, Extraordinary Calls, will be but weak Arguments. 1722Sewell Hist. Quakers (1795) I. 19 He was afraid of Fox, for going after new lights. 1744J. Edwards Wks. 1834 I. p. cxviii/1 To attend the ministry of those that are called New Light Ministers. 1785Burns Ep. W. Simpson xxvii, An' some their new-light fair avow, Just quite barefac't. Ibid. xxx, Some auld-light herds in neebor towns Are mind't [etc.]. 1806R. Forsyth Beauties Scotl. III. 429 The burgher associate clergy..have..resolved to expunge the offending passage from the Confession of Faith. Twelve or thirteen of their clergy..have wished to retain the Confession of Faith unaltered... They are called the adherents of the old light, in opposition to the majority of their brethren, whom they term new light men. 1874Blunt Dict. Sects s.v. Burghers, On Sept. 5th 1799..the Burgher body split into two parties, called respectively the Old-Light and the New-Light. On October 2nd the Old-Light minority constituted themselves into a separate Presbytery. Ibid. In 1820 the New-Light Burghers united with the New-Light Antiburghers, and took the name of the United Secession. 1888Barrie (title) Auld Licht Idylls.
e. A suggestion or help to the solution of a problem or enigma. Now spec. in an acrostic puzzle, each of the words which are to be guessed, their initials (or initials and finals) forming the word or words in which the answer to the puzzle consists.
1854Mrs. Gaskell Company Manners in Househ. Words 20 May 330/1 Why have we not oftener recourse to games of some kind. Wit, Advice, Bout-rimés, Lights..—every one knows these..if they would only not think it beneath them to be called upon..to play at them. 1894World 3 Jan. XL. 37/1 Acrostics... When ‘second thoughts’ are sent, the whole answer should be forwarded, not corrections to separate lights only. 1937H. G. Wells Brynhild vii. 108 Valliant Chevrell was generally the director of his scenes [in a charade], but the direction of the first light was taken out of his hands. 1945H. Phillips Word Play xiv. 84 It is permissible to play tricks of this kind with the Lights—beheading or curtailing the words.
f. The answer to a clue in a crossword puzzle.
1925‘Torquemada’ Cross-Words in Rhyme Introd. Those who wish a separate entertainment..from each Light in their cross-words. 1965Listener 16 Sept. 435/1 Some of the clues are two lines of verse, each by a different author. The names of the two authors have three or more consecutive letters in common and these letters form the light. 1967Sci. Amer. Sept. 268/2 The horizontal words..are called the cross-lights or simply the lights.
7. a. Often with spiritual reference (said of the brightness of Heaven, the illumination of the soul by divine truth or love, etc.). angel (or spirit) of light, one who dwells in Heaven.
971Blickl. Hom. 17 Se þe ne can þa beorhtnesse þæs ecan leohtes. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Ðese six werkes of brictnesse..he ben nemned lichtes wapne. a1225Ancr. R. 92 God wule..ȝiuen on liht wiðinnen, him uorto iseonne, ant icnowen. c1340Hampole Wks. (Horstm.) I. 13 Mare priuilyer he [Satan] transfigurs hym in þe forme of an awngel of lyght. a1400Prymer (1891) 73 That thou sette the soule of thy seruant..in the Kyngdom of pees and of liȝt. 1588J. Udall Demonstr. Discipl. (Arb.) 18 The light of the Gospell is (at the least) as cleare as that of the law. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. iv. iii. 257 Diuels soonest tempt resembling spirits of light. 1732Law Serious C. v. (ed. 2) 71 To walk in the light of Religion. 1738Wesley Psalms lxxxviii. i, Thou art the God of Light! 1827Hare Guesses (1859) 28 Beware, ye who walk in light, lest ye turn your light into a curse. 1854Faber Oratory Hymns lxvii. ‘Hark! hark! my soul’ i, Angels of Jesus! Angels of light!
b. spec. Among Quakers, the inward revelation of Christ in the soul.
1656G. Fox Jrnl. I. 271 That which is called life in Christ the Word, was called light in us. 1706[E. Ward] Wooden World Diss. (1708) 89 Tho' he's more beholden to Sol, than a Quaker to his inward Light. a1713T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 45, I now saw, in and by the farther Openings of the Divine Light in me. 1765A. Maclaine tr. Mosheim's Eccl. Hist. (1768) V. 25 They [Quakers] prefer..to be called, in allusion to that doctrine that is the fundamental principle of their association, Children or Confessors of Light.
c. Applied to God as the source of divine light, and to men who manifest it.
c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. v. 14 Ge synt middaneardes leoht. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints Prol. 129 God..of þis warld callit þame þe lichte. 1567Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.) 45 Call on the Lord, our gyde and lycht. 1859FitzGerald tr. Omar lvi. (1899) 87 Whether the one True Light Kindle to Love, or Wrath consume me quite. 1860Pusey Min. Proph. 588 In the presence of God Who is Light, all earthly light shall fail.
8. In figurative uses of sense 5:
a. One who is eminent or conspicuous for virtue, intellect, or other excellence; a luminary.
[1526Tindale John v. 35 He was a brennynge and a shynynge light.] 1592Davies Immort. Soul vi. i. (1714) 43 Some who were great Lights of old, And in their Hands the Lamp of God did bear. 1613Shakes. Hen. VIII, i. i. 6 Those Sunnes of Glory, those two Lights of Men. 1630Prynne Anti-Armin. 82 He was..a worthy light of our Church. 1693J. Edwards Author. O. & N. Test. 78 Those eminent lights of the Latin church, Rufinus, Jerom, Hilary. a1700Dryden Iliad i. 370 If both the Lights Of Greece their private Int'rest disunites. 1832Tennyson Dream Fair Women 268 Joan of Arc, A light of ancient France. 1837Disraeli Venetia i. iv, He had been one of the shining lights of his university. 1868Helps Realmah xiii. (1876) 367 The great lights of the Bench. 1887Lantern (New Orleans) 7 May 3/1 Some of the leading lights of the National League. 1894Jessopp Random Roaming, etc. v. 189, I know of one eminent man of science, who was a burning and shining light in his day. 1915T. Dreiser Genins ii. xl. 469 What Eugene thought and what White thought of this prospective situation was that the other would naturally be the minor figure, and that he under Colfax would be the shining light. 1942Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §388/4 Principal or most important person,..leading card or light. 1943K. Tennant Ride on Stranger xvi. 180 An eminent legal light. 1974E. Ambler Dr. Frigo iii. 240 The procession could..move off. I was among the least of the lesser lights and so was among the first out.
b. A bright example.
1550Crowley Waie to Wealth (1872) 139 Fingered ladies, whose womanlike behauiour and motherlike housewifry ought to be a lighte to al women.
9. In figurative uses of sense 1 e: A consideration which elucidates or which suggests a particular (true or false) view of a subject. Hence, the aspect in which anything is viewed or judged. in the light of: (a) with the help afforded by knowledge of (some fact); (b) in the aspect or character of, viewed as being (so and so).
1689–90Temple Ess., Gardening Wks. 1731 I. 174 Cæsar, if considered in all Lights. 1705Addison Italy Pref., I have mention'd but few Things in common with others, that are not either set in a new Light or accompany'd with different Reflections. 1712Steele Spect. No. 518 ⁋9 As you have considered human nature in all its lights. 1719W. Wood Surv. Trade p. v, Should we consider your Majesty under this Light. 1748Anson's Voy. ii. v. 182 In this light it will easily appear, how much more intense the same degree of heat may prove. 1749Fielding Tom Jones v. i, Those great judges whose vast strength of genius hath placed them in the light of legislators. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §163 In the light of a foremast seaman, he appeared to be quite a Genius. 1834Macaulay in Trevelyan Life I. 373, I quite enjoy the thought of appearing in the light of an old hunks who knows on which side his bread is buttered. 1891E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 289 In what light did she strike you? 1893Times 1 June 9/5 In the light of all that has been said and done.
10. a. A window or other opening in a wall for the admission of light; spec. one of the perpendicular divisions of a mullioned window.
14..in Willis Archit. Nomencl. Mid. Ages (1844) 51 Three windowes, every windowe conteineth vj lights... Item ij hiest small lights. a1490Botoner Itin. (Nasmith 1778) 287 Sunt in qualibet bay-wyndow septem lyghtis. 1523Test. Ebor. (Surtees) 174 A wynddoo of thre lightes to be placed in the north ile. a1586Sidney Arcadia i. (1590) 8 The lightes, doores and staires, rather directed to the vse of the guest, then to the eye of the Artificer. 1608Topsell Serpents (1658) 720 They shut their doores against them [Frogs], and stopped up all their lights to exclude them out of their houses. 1683Moxon Mech. Exerc. Printing ii. ⁋1 For the making the height of his Lights to bear a rational proportion to the capacity of the Room. 1723Chambers tr. Le Clerc's Treat. Archit. I. 133 Round or Oval Lights..make a very beautiful Diversity with the larger Windows. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. xxi. 254 Clear Oyster-shell Lights, that are far inferior to Lights of Glass. 1760Raper in Phil. Trans. LI. 804 The diameter of the circular light at top is 27 feet 5 inches. 1823Rutter Fonthill 55 The third window..two lights high, and four wide. 1879Sir G. Scott Lect. Archit. I. 182 The east and west windows, of five lights each.
b. Gardening. One of the glazed compartments (usually admitting of being opened) forming the roof or side of a greenhouse or the top of a frame.
1733Miller Gardener's Dict. (ed. 2) s.v. Hot-bed, Some have them [Frames] to contain but two Lights, which is very handy for raising Cucumber and Melon Plants. 1821W. Cobbett Amer. Gardener §106 Air is given by pushing up, or drawing down, the Lights, which form the top or roof of the green-house. 1829― Eng. Gardener §49 Upon this frame, glazed sashes are put, which are called lights. 1847J. W. Loudon Amateur Gard. Cal. (1857) 208 A frame with glass lights like those used for melon and cucumber beds. 1859R. Thompson Gardener's Assist. 625 The soil should be watered about ten a.m., shutting down the lights for a short time, in order to prevent a chill taking place.
11. Mech. An aperture or clear space. (Cf. F. lumière.)
1776G. Semple Building in Water 12 These Arches consist of a Semi-circle, and the Depth of their Archivolte is a tenth Part of the light or void of the greater, and an eighth Part of the light of the lesser ones. 1884F. J. Britten Watch & Clockm. Handbk. 59 See that the ‘lights’ between the wheel teeth and the edge of the roller are equal on both sides when the wheel is locked.
12. Painting. Light or illuminated surface, as represented in a picture, or considered in regard to such representation; any portion of a picture represented as lighted up. Also fig.: usu. opp. to shade.
In this sense perh. mixed with an absolute use of light a.2 Fr. has both lumière and clair in similar applications.
1622Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. i. 3 With this onely did he fill and finish his Table, giuing in the rest Lights and shadowes, as might sute best with each seuerall part. 1658W. Sanderson Graphice 66 In what places you will have those strong and high lights, and reflections to fall, which are seen in satten and velvet. Ibid., Lay your light with thinne and waterish Lake. 1709Felton Classics (1718) 69 It is in Writing, as in Picture, in which the Art is to observe where the Lights will fall. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. x. 412 It is very unusual to see the light and shade justly and naturally handled [in Chinese pictures]. 1811Self Instructor 513 Giving the lights their proper value. c1816Fuseli in Lect. Paint. viii. (1848) 505 One point is the brightest in the eye, as on the object; this is the point of light. 1821Craig Lect. Drawing iii. 153 A light is made brighter by being opposed to a dark. 1843Ruskin Arrows of Chace (1880) I. 5 The Italian masters universally make the horizon the chief light of their picture. 1859Gullick & Timbs Paint. 204 Selecting some point of ‘highest light’. 1867Tennyson Window 1 The lights and shadows fly! Yonder it brightens and darkens down on the plain.
fig.1732Pope Ess. Man ii. 121 The lights and shades, whose well-accorded strife Gives all the strength and colour of our life. 1812Dramatic Censor 1811 182 This may be what our modern playmakers call light and shade. 1937Printers' Ink Monthly May 39/1 Light and shade, variations from quietness to tenseness, softness to shouting and which has a tendency to keep a production from a dull sameness. 1952Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 110 Light and shade, the niceties of intonation, inflection, modulation, etc., in the reading of a part.
13. Law. The light which falls on the windows of a house from the heavens, and which the owner claims to enjoy unobscured by obstructions erected by his neighbours. Usu. in pl.
In England the inscription ‘Ancient Lights’ was frequently put on the face or side of a house adjacent to a site on which lofty buildings may be erected; the object being to give warning that the owner would have ground of action against any person who should obstruct the access of light to his windows. (Cf. sense 10 above.)
1768Blackstone Comm. III. 5 If a house or wall is erected so near to mine that it stops my antient lights,..I may enter my neighbour's land, and peaceably pull it down. 1858Ld. St. Leonards Handy-Bk. Prop. Law vii. 48 If a house is sold with all the lights belonging to it, and it is intended to build upon the adjoining ground..so as to interfere with the lights, the right to build in that manner should be expressly reserved. Ibid. xxv. 187 You should keep in view this distinction between the right to light, and rights of common and of way, or the like.
14. a. A flame or spark serving to ignite any combustible substance. to strike a light, to produce a flame or spark with flint and steel or with a match (see strike v.). b. Something used for igniting; e.g. a spill, taper, match.
1684Bunyan Pilgr. ii. (1900) 277 Wherefore he strook a Light (for he never goes also without his Tinder-box). 1835W. Irving Tour Prairies 281 We had implements to strike a light. 1835Marryat Three Cutters i, Tell Mr. Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar. 1852Dickens Bleak Ho. xi, Krook takes it [a candle], goes to the fire, stoops over the red embers, and tries to get a light. 1889Besant Bell St. Paul's I. 170 A jar of tobacco, and a box of lights. Mod. Go and put a light to the fire in the dining-room.
15. attrib. and Comb.
a. simple attrib., as light-beam, light-effect, light-glare, light-output, light-ray, light-scatter, light-signal, light-socket, light-song, light-source, light-spot, light-switch, light-wave;
b. objective, as light-absorber, light-absorbing, light-absorptive, light-avoiding, light-bearer, light-bringer, light-creating, light-emitting, light-gathering, light-giver, light-giving, light-grasping, light-hating, light-loving, light-maker, light-making, light-passing, light-producing, light-reflecting, light-reflective, light-refracting, light-throwing adjs.; instrumental, etc., as light-actuated, light-embroidered, light-gilded, light-sensitive, light-stilled adjs.
1957Technology Dec. 361/2 *Light absorbers for use in products affected by ultra-violet radiations from the sun.
1967E. Chambers Photolitho-Offset vii. 85 The term density refers to the *light-absorbing ability of the [silver] layer.
1963R. R. A. Higham Handbk. Papermaking viii. 210 Opacity is dependent on the number of *light-absorptive or -reflective fibre surfaces in a sheet.
1936Discovery Nov. 358/1 *Light-actuated apparatus for home use is now on the market.
1924J. A. Thomson Sci. Old & New xxvi. 142 The Fierasfer..is a *light-avoiding fish, related to the sand-eel. 1965B. E. Freeman tr. Vandel's Biospeleol. iv. 39 The light-avoiding planarians are simple to keep in captivity.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. xliii. (Tollem. MS.), A *lyȝt bem [L. radius] is a bryȝte strem of a body of lyȝte. 1845Carlyle Cromwell (1871) IV. 119 Straggling accidental light beams.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 67 b, The sterre called lucifer: that is to say the *lyght berer. 1852James Agnes Sorel (1860) I. 257 Two of the light-bearers cast down their torches and fled.
1831Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. v. (1838) 170 By this fairest of Orient *Light-bringers must our Friend be blandished.
1781Cowper Truth 390 The *light-creating God.
1902Westm. Gaz. 29 Sept. 3/1 The energy required for producing pendulous movements of atoms and molecules giving *light-effects must be very small as compared with the total energy employed. 1962R. G. Haggar Dict. Art Terms 192/1 J. M. W. Turner..carried research into light effects further than any previous artist.
1745–6Collins Ode Liberty iv. 16 Clouds, that lie Paving the *light-embroider'd Sky.
1964Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. II. 351 The decrease in *light-emitting capacity of a methanol solution of..luciferin.
1869Chambers's Jrnl. 10 Apr. 231/1 Under the high power and vast *light-gathering capacity of Sir W. Herschel's four-foot reflector. 1960Farmer & Stockbreeder 8 Mar. 134 The Meopta 12 × 60 has the rare combination of high magnification and brilliant light-gathering power even at night and under bad climatic conditions.
c1670H. Anderson Crt. Convert 7 We must..Leave the fair Train, and the *light-guilded Room.
1382Wyclif Gen. i. 16 And God made two greet *liȝt ȝyuerys [Vulg. luminaria]. 1581Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 20 Poetry..hath been the first light-giuer to ignorance. 1883Cassell's Fam. Mag. July 464/1 It consists of a wick or light-giver, formed of vegetable carbon bent in the form of a loop.
1427–9Rolls of Parlt. IV. 364/2 A redy Bekyn, wheryn shall be *light gevyng by nyht, to alle the Vesselx that [etc.]. 1863I. Williams Baptistery i. v. (1874) 54 The light-giving face That lights the heavens.
1856Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh vi. 572 He had been covered overmuch To keep him from the *light-glare.
1889Tablet 2 Nov. 688 The most powerful *light-grasping instruments as yet used.
1647H. More Song of Soul iii. App. xxxvii, *Light-hating ghosts.
1895J. H. & A. Comstock Man. Study Insects xxi. 562 The *Light-loving Anomala, Anomala lucicola..also feeds on the leaves of grape. 1974A. Huxley Plant & Planet viii. 99 During the twelve-hour period of the average night..the plant is regarded as ‘dark-loving’, while in the other twelve-hour period it is ‘light-loving’.
1382Wyclif Ezek. xxxii. 8, Y shal make alle *liȝtmakers [Vulg. luminaria] of heuen for to mourne vpon thee.
1800Herschel in Phil. Trans. XC. 528 *Light-making rays.
1950Sci. News XV. 43 The brightnesses thus catalogued are, however, only apparent... So, in order to compare the *light-outputs of the stars, we introduce the idea of Absolute Magnitude. 1958Newnes Compl. Amat. Photogr. 120 Recent developments have been in the direction of maintaining high efficiency and light-output operating at lower voltages.
1961G. Millerson Technique Television Production iii. 38 Construction differences [in lenses] ..can vary their respective *light-passing abilities, although their stop numbers may be measurably identical.
1845Harmony of Comprehensible World Essay II. xiii. 221 Between some bodies there may be no *light-producing sympathy, because the mutual relations of their constituent molecules may not be such as to develope light. 1964V. B. Wigglesworth Life of Insects viii. 126 It is among the insects that some of the most brilliant and certainly the most complex types of light-producing organs are to be found.
1880‘Mark Twain’ Tramp Abroad I. xvi. 129 Of *Light-rays was the Figure wove. 1950Sci. News XV. 17 Light rays cannot bring about a photo-chemical change unless they are absorbed.
1854Geo. Eliot tr. Feuerbach's Essence Christianity v. 61 Tears are the *light-reflecting drops which mirror the nature of the Christian's God. 1951S. Spender World within World iii. 180 Their minds like little caves of calculating darkness which the light-reflecting snow has never penetrated.
1963*Light-reflective [see light-absorptive above].
1889E. Carpenter Civilization 88 It [sc. modern science] takes the emerald, and breaks it up; treats of its color and *light-refracting qualities. 1957Partridge English gone Wrong ii. 29 The light-refracting heads of the Communist philosophers and propagandists.
1958A.M.A. Arch. Industr. Health XVIII. 29/1 A plot of the *light-scatter decay was divided into exponential portions by a slope-analysis method. 1961G. Millerson Technique Television Production iii. 43 Optically speaking, there are several obvious causes for lack of clarity: dirty lenses, light-scatter in the lens.
1936Discovery May 151/1 It was not until the appearance of a new type of *light-sensitive cell, known as the rectifier or semi-conducting cell, that photo-electric exposure meters became popular. 1946Nature 28 Sept. 454/2 N. texana also contains strains which have light-sensitive seeds. 1962Science Survey III. 240 The retina is light-sensitive because it contains one or more photosensitive pigments located in its visual receptors.
1920A. S. Eddington Space, Time & Gravitation iii. 50 It would, in fact, be possible for an observer travelling along NP to receive a *light-signal..announcing the event O, just as he reached N. 1930Morning Post 19 July 13/6 An extension of the system of light signals for road traffic. 1964Amer. Jrnl. Physics XXXII. 262/2 At an arbitrary instant t..a light signal S is emitted at the origin A of the coordinate system.
1960H. Pinter Caretaker ii. 48 There used to be a wall plug..but it doesn't work. I had to fit it in the *light socket.
1935A. H. Haffenden (title) *Light-song. 1946L. B. Lyon Rough Walk Home 27 Our anguish has a hand, that gropes For melody, for the light-song of the sun.
1903Edin. Rev. July 113 Because a spectrum line changes with change of..velocity of *light source and other disturbing causes, the value of its record is thereby increased. 1961G. Millerson Technique Television Production iii. 49 Prolonged static captions, and visible light-sources in the scene, are the worst offenders.
1884Earle Ags. Lit. 98 Anglia became for a century the *light-spot of European history.
1938W. de la Mare Memory 81 Peace beyond telling share with the *light-stilled eye.
1892F. C. Allsop Pract. Electr.-Light Fitting iii. 39 Lamp or branch switches are designated either by the number of lamps they are intended to control, or..by their current-carrying capacity. They are thus called 1, 2, or 3 *light, or 1, 2, or 3 ampère switches. 1926G. Hunting Vicarion iv. 63 He went back to his light-switch, closed the closet door which stood ajar, and brought his chair toward them again. 1972‘H. Carmichael’ Naked to Grave i. 14 He heard the click of a light switch in the bedroom.
1894‘Mark Twain’ in Century Mag. Jan. 336 He asked questions that would have brought *light-throwing answers. 1902Westm. Gaz. 1 July 2/1 An excellent translation of a light-throwing and thought-provoking book.
1871Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) II. viii. 110 Different *light-waves produce different colours.
16. Special Comb.: light-adaptation, self-adjustment of the eye to increased intensity of light by means of a decrease in the sensitivity of the retina; also, in extended use, any reversible change in an organism that occurs in response to increased light; so light-adapted pa. pple. and ppl. a., in the state that results from light-adaptation; light-ball Mil., a combustible fired from a mortar at night, to throw light on the operations of the enemy; light barrier, (a) a limit to the resolution possible with an optical microscope arising out of the finite length of light waves (nonce-use); (b) the speed of light as the limiting speed attainable by any object; light-boat = light-ship; † light-bolt, a thunderbolt; also fig.; light-box, † (a) a certain apparatus for striking a light by chemical means; (b) Naut. = light-room (Cent. Dict.); (c) a box-like piece of equipment containing a light and usu. having translucent glass on one side which provides an evenly lighted surface; light bucket Astr. (colloq.), a telescope, regarded as a device for collecting and focusing a large quantity of low-intensity radiation; light bulb = bulb n. 4; light-buoy, a buoy equipped with a warning light which flashes intermittently; light button, a knob or disc which, when pressed, turns a light on or off; light-change Astr., a change in the amount of light received from a variable star; light check Theatr. (see quot. 1952); light cone Physics, a surface in space-time which appears conical when represented in three dimensions and comprises all the world-points from which a light signal would reach a given point (defining the apex) simultaneously (and which therefore appear simultaneous to an observer at the apex); light cord, a cord which hangs from a ceiling or lamp stand and operates an electric light when pulled; light cue, (a) Broadcasting, a cue indicated by a light being switched on; (b) Theatr. (see quot. 1961); light-cure rare or Obs., a cure effected by sunlight or artificial light; also attrib.; light curve Astr., a graph showing the variation in the light received over a period of time from a variable star or other heavenly body; light-demander, a tree that will not tolerate shade; so light-demanding a., of trees or, occas., other plants, needing full light; light-due, -duty, a toll levied on ships for the maintenance of lights in lighthouses and lightships; light-fastness, resistance to discoloration by light; so light-fast a.; † light-fat, a lamp; light-filter Photogr. = colour-filter (see colour n.1 19); light-fixture, the flex, socket, and other equipment which is used with a light bulb; light fog Photogr. (see quot. 1940 and fog n.2 4); light-grasp Astr., light-gathering power (of a telescope); light guide, a cylinder or strip of transparent material, or a bundle of them, along which light can travel with little loss, by means of total internal reflection; light gun = light pen; light-head, the top portion of a ‘light’ (sense 10); light-keeper, one who has charge of the light in a lighthouse or lightship; light-land (Hist.), land given for the maintenance of light at an altar or shrine; light-man, (a) one who attends to the light (in a lighthouse, etc.); a light-keeper; (b) a linkman; hence lightmanship, the office or duty of a lightman; light meter, an instrument for measuring the intensity of light; esp. an exposure meter; light microscope, a conventional microscope, in which ordinary light is used; light-money = light-due; light organ, in luminescent animals, the structure emitting light; light pen, a hand-held, pen-like device that incorporates a lens, photoelectric cell, and amplifier and may be used to feed information by wire to a data-processing system by placing or moving the tip on the screen of a cathode-ray tube or other surface so that electrical impulses are transmitted to the system; light-picture, a photograph; light pipe = light guide; light-port (see quot. 1867); light-pressure, pressure exerted on a body by light incident on it; light quantum Physics = photon; light-room, (a) a small chamber next to the magazine in a war-ship, in which lights are placed behind thick glass windows for illuminating the magazine; (b) the room at the top of a lighthouse containing the lighting apparatus; light-scattering, scattering of light, spec. of monochromatic light by a solution as a method of determining the molecular weight of dissolved polymers and investigating their conformation; light-sensation, in the study of visual perception, the sensation produced by light; light-shot Hist., a due levied for furnishing the church with lights [= OE. leoht-ᵹesceot]; light show, a display of changing coloured lights or varied film strips, freq. accompanying popular music; also attrib.; light-stand, a stand to support a light; light station, a group of buildings which includes a lighthouse and associated buildings for housing personnel, supplies, and equipment; light-struck a., (a) ? thunderstruck; (b) Photogr., injured by exposure to actinic light; light-tight a., impervious to light; light-time Astr., the time taken by light to travel from a distant source to the observer; light-tower, a lighthouse; light trap, (a) Photogr., a device for excluding light from a room or other space without preventing access into it; (b) a device for attracting, catching, and sometimes killing, night-flying insects; so light-trapped a., provided with a light trap; light value Photogr., a number representing on an arbitrary scale the intensity of light from a particular direction; light-value shutter, a shutter having the aperture and shutter speed settings linked so that they can be altered together in such a way as to keep the amount of light admitted during an exposure constant; light valve, a device which regulates the amount of light passing through it according to the magnitude of an applied electrical signal; light-vessel = lightship; light-well, a shaft designed to admit light from above into inner rooms or a staircase of a building; light-year (see quot. 1890); it is approximately equal to 9·46 × 1012 km. (5·87 × 1012 miles); also fig.
1900W. H. Rivers in E. A. Schäfer Textbk. Physiol. II. 1080 If the eye remained in a condition of *light-adaptation, red and blue..became gradually blacker. 1962H. C. Weston Sight, Light & Work (ed. 2) i. 8 Thus, after full light-adaptation, complete dark-adaptation may require about an hour. 1964Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. II. 352 Prolonged laboratory culture, starvation, and light- or dark-adaptation had relatively little effect on luminescent ability [of the copepod Metridia lucens].
1900W. H. Rivers in E. A. Schäfer Textbk. Physiol. II. 1073 He found that in complete dark-adaptation the recurrent image followed the original immediately and was brighter than to the *light-adapted eye. 1935Discovery May 138/1 A source of light which is almost or quite invisible to a light-adapted eye, that is to one coming in from daylight, is quite obvious to a dark-adapted eye. 1950Sci. News XV. 25 A [spontaneous] change in fixation direction is quite possible, particularly when the eye is not fully light-adapted or where there is too large an object for precise fixation.
1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) II. 766/2 Fire-balls, *light-balls, smoke-balls, [etc.]. 1859F. A. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 86 Light balls burn from 10 to 20 minutes.
1959Listener 31 Dec. 1161/1 When one gets down to sizes round about the wavelength of light..one runs into a barrier, which might be called the *light barrier, that no microscope working by means of light can break through. 1964M. McLuhan Understanding Media (1967) i. vi. 68 No further acceleration is possible this side of the light barrier. 1968A. Diment Great Spy Race x. 180 The faster than light spaceships will bring the stars down into our backyard, for once one has broken the so-called ‘light-barrier’ there is no limit to speed.
1858Homans Cycl. Commerce 1237 *Light-Boats and their Accessories.
1582Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 76 Thundring *lightbolts from torne clowds fyrye be flasshing. a1603Brewer Lingua iv. i. (1607) H, Therefore more murthering art thou then the light bolt. 1647Trapp Comm. Rev. xii. 8 Whatsoever the pope with his bulls, or the emperor with his light-bolts, did to hinder it, still the gospel ran and was glorified.
1849Thackeray Pendennis I. xix. 173 Helen..went for a *light-box and his cigar-case. 1853H. Knight Once upon a Time II. 273 By-and-by the light-box was sold as low as a shilling. 1940J. O. Kraehenbuehl Electr. Illumination viii. 108/2 The light boxes commonly used may be divided into two classes: those which are covered with some form of transmitting medium which is translucent.., and those which have prismatic lens plates. 1943J. S. Huxley TVA 98 Note the flush light boxes with patent lenses at the side of the stairway. 1957Screen Printer & Display Producer July 16/3 Pin-holes were spotted out over a lightbox before printing. 1962H. C. Weston Sight, Light & Work (ed. 2) vi. 195 These devices consist of a light-box of suitable size, the cover-glass or vizor of which allows the emission of light in a regular pattern.
1968New Scientist 31 Oct. 260/2 One piece of equipment is a 34-ft ‘*light bucket’ for seeking out point sources of gamma rays in the universe. 1970Nature 7 Feb. 492/2 Infrared telescopes, more properly called flux collectors—light buckets in the language of astronomy—are cheap compared with similar equipment for the visible spectrum.
1884*Light bulb [see bulb n. 4]. 1946E. Hodgins Mr. Blandings builds his Dream House (1947) i. v. 78 The cost of your house doesn't get you moved into it with light bulbs in all the sockets. 1975M. Kenyon Mr Big xix. 185 His muscled black tangled limbs trailing flex and popping lightbulbs from the overhead fixtures.
1894W. Le Queux Gt. War in Eng. in 1897 xxix. 236 A cruiser..was lying near the Herwit *light-buoy. 1930W. de la Mare Desert Islands 19 Light-ship or beacon or winking light-buoy rocked in the cradle of the deep. 1951Oxf. Jun. Encycl. IV. 71/2 The older light buoys exhibit their light day and night; but they are gradually being superseded by buoys which automatically light up at sunset and extinguish themselves at dawn.
1929D. Hammett Dain Curse x. 95 [My] hand touched the *light button. I had sense enough to push it. Light scorched my eyes. 1970R. Busby Frighteners xvii. 172 The time-switch light-button on the wall.
1890A. M. Clerke Syst. Stars ix. 139 The *light-change of S. Cancri, the second of the Algol variables, was discovered by Mr. Hind in 1848. 1928Publ. Washburn Observatory Univ. Wisconsin XV. i. iv. 29 Ellipsoidal figure of the bodies would account for most of the light-change.
1933P. Godfrey Back-Stage i. 18 ‘*Light checks’ are any alterations to the opening lighting of the scene. 1952Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 110 Light check, a dimming of lights.
1922E. P. Adams tr. Einstein's Meaning of Relativity ii. 42 P′ lies outside the ‘*light-cone’. 1964A. O. Barut Electrodynamics i. 8 All time-like vectors are inside the light cone and the space-like ones are outside. 1964Listener 17 Dec. 976/2 Encouragement also comes from the usual diagrams in physics text books representing such relativistic ideas as the ‘light cone’. 1968M. Lockwood Accessory (1969) iii. 74 She reached accurately for the hanging *light cord.
1972E. Page Family & Friends viii. 124 He pulled at the light cord, glanced at the clock.
1929Radio Times 8 Nov. 389/1 They will sit at the [control] panel, flashing ‘*light cues’, fading and cross-fading studios. 1930L. Hartmann Theatre Lighting iii. 37 Light cues are written down during the progress of a rehearsal. 1961Bowman & Ball Theatre Lang. 201 Light cue.., the cue for the commencement of some planned change in illumination.
1901Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 844/2 Hospitals..have already obtained apparatus for the *light-cure of lupus. 1904Daily Chron. 11 Apr. 5/3 Yesterday morning King Edward..paid a lengthy visit to Professor Finsen's light-cure institution.
1890A. M. Clerke Syst. Stars viii. 116 The *light-curve [of U Geminorum] takes more or less the form of a double peak with a saddle between. 1956Astrophysical Jrnl. CXXIII. 12 The light-curve for the 1952 eclipse, as measured in the Sudan, is much flatter than the curves..from the 1947 observations. 1968Project Icarus (Mass. Inst. Technol.) i. 7 The rate of rotation of an asteroid and the axis of its rotation can be found approximately by careful analysis of the shape and variation of its light curve. 1975Sci. Amer. Mar. 26/3 The X-ray light curve of Centaurus X-3 is the curve of a typical eclipsing binary system.
1891W. Schlich Man. Forestry II. iv. 306 As regards light-requirement it [sc. the Weymouth Pine] stands half-way between *light-demanders and shade-bearers. 1928R. S. Troup Silvicultural Syst. v. 67 If the group system is applied to strong light-demanders, larger gaps would be necessary. 1966Times 21 Apr. 16/6 Some trees are such emphatic light-demanders..that they will not thrive if there is any overhead shade.
1889W. Schlich Man. Forestry I. ii. 117 Certain species [which] cannot thrive unless they enjoy a large measure of light throughout life..are called ‘*light demanding’. 1952H. L. Edlin Forester's Handbk. viii. 113 Trees described as light-demanding will only succeed if grown in the open. 1964Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. II. 213 In his [sc. Ernst's] opinion Udotea is a light demanding species [of green alga].
1839Penny Cycl. XIII. 479/1 *Light-dues are collected..upon ships frequenting our ports. 1860R. Bursell in Merc. Marine Mag. VII. 4 The Light dues..are one shilling per ton.
1793Smeaton Edystone L. §84 The condition of their receiving the *light duties was that of maintaining a light.
1957M. B. Picken Fashion Dict. 213/1 *Lightfast. 1971Jrnl. Oil & Colour Chemists' Assoc. LIV. 847 Bright red paints based on cadmium sulpho-selenide pigments, which are highly light-fast.
1913C. E. Pellew Dyes & Dyeing iii. 63 The test for *light-fastness is usually made by partially covering a dyed skein with a piece of wood..and exposing it to direct sunlight. 1959B.S.I. News June 4/1 The colour, colour-strength, transparency and light-fastness of these inks in terms of comparison with master standard inks. 1962J. T. Marsh Self-Smoothing Fabrics vi. 75 Dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea appears to be quite outstanding in its effect on the light-fastness of dyed goods in general and those containing reactive dyes in particular. 1971Jrnl. Oil & Colour Chemists' Assoc. LIV. 857 Better light-fastness of pigments, non-yellowing media..are thus seen to be important requirements.
c1000Ags. Gosp. John v. 35 He wæs byrnende *leoht-fæt [Vulg lucerna] & lyhtende. c1200Ormin 13399 Þurrh Filippe onn Ennglissh iss Lihhtfattess muþ bitacnedd.
1901Chambers's Jrnl. June 367/2 For use either in ortho⁓chromatic or colour photography, *light-filters..are now commercially produced. 1958Newnes Compl. Amat. Photogr. iv. 83 The smaller increases in exposure needed when light-filters are employed.
1923T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Spring & Summer 357/5 *Light fixture, for dining-room or living-room. 1939D. Parker Here Lies 27 He bought..storm-windows, and light-fixtures.
1889E. J. Wall Dict. Photogr. 77 *Light fog makes its appearance generally all over the plate. 1915Photo-Era XXXV. 170/1 Plate and films must be loaded..with the utmost care to avoid light-fog. 1940Chambers's Techn. Dict. 449/1 Light-fog (Photog.), fog in an emulsion, caused by intrusion of extraneous light into a camera or other apparatus which is intended to be light-tight.
1946Nature 6 July 18/1 Wood..used the instrument in his charge for those types of astronomical observation for which it was eminently suitable by virtue of its short focal-length, large field of good definition and powerful *light-grasp. 1961Listener 7 Sept. 353/3 For televising relatively faint objects, such as planets, it is necessary to use a powerful telescope with considerable light-grasp.
1951Jrnl. Sci. Instrum. XXVIII 188/1 (heading) A divided *light guide for coincidence counting of scintillations due to alpha particles. Ibid., A forked light guide was constructed from..Perspex rod. 1972Science 9 June 1128/1 Luminescence was detected through a fiber-optic light guide.
1970O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing xi. 179 An extension of the CRT terminal is the light pen, or *light gun, which can be used for identifying details in the picture displayed by the computer and even for making sketches which the computer can record. 1972Computers & Humanities VII. 5 With the use of a light gun the linguist can select from alternative expansions in phrase structure trees.
1886Willis & Clark Cambridge III. 554 A monial which branches over the *light⁓heads.
1793Smeaton Edystone L. §310 They would fully instruct the person entered as *Light-keeper. 1860Merc. Marine Mag. VII. 94 Its base is surrounded by the light⁓keepers' dwellings.
1879E. Waterton Pietas Mariana 85 Lands given for this purpose were called lamp-lands and *light⁓lands.
1457Churchw. Acc. Yatton (Som. Rec. Soc.) 99 For the *lytemen of Cleve..yrecevede iiii marke iis. a1704T. Brown Wks. (1760) IV. 255 The midwife moon might mind her calling, And noisy lightman leave his bawling. 1889A. T. Pask Eyes Thames 68 Box-making, for which the Nore lightmen have been famous for years past.
1534Churchw. Acc. Yatton (Som. Rec. Soc.) 148 Of John Wassborowe for *lygthmanshepe... vis. viijs.
1921Gas Jrnl. CLVI. 563/2 Mr. Haydn T. Harrison next interested the members with a description of the ‘Benjamin’ *Lightmeter, which is a simple portable apparatus to measure illumination, and enable one to give intelligent and expert advice on factory lighting. 1943D. Baker Trio ii. 92 A light-meter on a cord, some photographic lenses, an envelope full of negatives. 1973A. Broinowski Take one Ambassador xiii. 211 Peering at the light-meter reading on his Asahi Pentax.
1941*Light microscope [see electron microscope s.v. electron2 2 b]. 1961Lancet 5 Aug. 295/1 There are great difficulties in interpreting the shapes of these small chromosomes because they are almost at the limit of light-microscope resolution.
1672Marvell Corr. cci. Wks. 1872–5 II. 399 He will on his part give you the best security..from the time that the *light-mony shall begin to be payd. 1755N. Magens Insurances I. 518 For Pilotage and Light-Money {pstlg}10 10. 1886E. Schuyler Amer. Diplom. 308 Apart from the Sound dues themselves, there were charges of light-money, pass-money, etc., which caused a delay at Elsinore.
1899D. Sharp in Cambr. Nat. Hist. VI. v. 259 The structure of the *light organs [of Pyrophorus] is essentially similar to that of the Lampyridæ. 1928Russell & Yonge Seas 192 Some of these cuttlefish from the deep sea have over twenty light organs in various parts of the body. 1954N. B. Marshall Aspects Deep Sea Biol. xi. 273 May not some of the light organs which stud the body [of certain fishes] also attract prey? 1969R. F. Chapman Insects vi. 86 In most beetles the light organs are relatively compact.
1958Proc. IRE XLVI. 1123/1 Narrow-based germanium photodiodes have been fabricated with intrinsic response times of less than 75 mµsec... They have been used with success in many applications among which are:..detector in a transistorized ‘*light pen’ for high-speed oscilloscope readout. 1964Discovery Oct. 53/2 (caption) Display console of a computer which illustrates actual graphs, characters and drawings stored within the machine in digital form. The operator can make corrections to the display with a ‘light pen’ which automatically corrects the stored information. 1966Sci. Amer. Sept. 95/2 The stylus-photocell arrangement called the light pen can be used to make the cathode-ray-tube display serve for the manual input of sketches and diagrams. 1973Courier & Advertiser (Dundee) 21 Feb. 7/1 The 280's light pen will ‘read’ information from colour bar coded tags and data from 48 terminals can be fed into a central data unit and recorded on magnetic tape ready for computer processing.
1885A. M. Clerke Pop. Hist. Astron. 199 By its means the first solar *light-pictures of real value were taken.
1951Nucleonics Aug. 47/2 The counter was made with a long *light pipe. 1961Physical Rev. CXXIII. 1150/2 A dielectric rod constitutes a waveguide (light pipe) and thus additional modes of propagation..are introduced. 1970New Scientist 13 Aug. 340/1 Light can travel along a bundle of certain glass fibres—a light pipe. 1972Sci. Amer. Sept. 112/2 Although light can be conducted through carefully fabricated pipes a centimeter or so in diameter with an attenuation of only a few decibels per kilometer..light pipes have the drawback that they must either be perfectly straight or be provided with optical means for bending the rays wherever the pipe bends.
1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) Y y, Cantanettes, the *light-ports in the stern of a galley. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Light-port, a scuttle made for showing a light through. Also, a port in timber ships kept open until brought deep by cargo. It is then secured and caulked in.
1903Encycl. Brit. Index, *Light-pressure. 1908Westm. Gaz. 23 Oct. 5/3 There is also a small and sharply curved envelope on the side of the nucleus [of the comet] towards the sun, the presumption being that the matter ejected from the head in this direction is quickly turned back by the ‘light-pressure’ exerted by the sun. 1968R. A. Lyttleton Mysteries Solar Syst. v. 178 With comminution of cometary particles occurring mainly on the perihelion side of the orbit, light-pressure will automatically select all those of appropriate size and expel them from the comet.
1925D. L. Thomson in J. A. Thomson Sci. & Relig. 211 It follows from the modern ‘Quantum Theory’..that there are ‘smallest-possible’ amounts of light, which we might call..*light-quanta. 1938R. W. Lawson tr. Hevesy & Paneth's Man. Radioactivity (ed. 2) ix. 105 According to this hypothesis, the emission of β-radiation is not a unitary elementary process like the emission of a light quantum, but a dual process consisting of the simultaneous emission of an electron and a neutrino. 1948Sci. News VI. 75 In the quantum theory a light signal cannot be sub-divided indefinitely, but consists of finite units, so-called light quanta, or ‘photons’. 1974Sci. Amer. Oct. 68/1 Carbohydrates are the direct result of the photosynthetic activity of green plants... The energy needed to promote this reaction is provided by light quanta from the sun.
1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), *Light-room,..it is used to contain the lights by which the gunner, and his assistants, are enabled to fill the cartridges with powder. 1803Naval Chron. XV. 59 Coppered the light room. 1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 805 The Light-Room Floor, the 86th course of the building. 1875W. McIlwraith Guide Wigtownshire 112 The light⁓room at the top [of the lighthouse].
1926H. C. Macpherson Mod. Astron. iv. 64 Dr. Wright, photographing Mars,..concluded that the Martian atmosphere was at least 120 miles in depth and possessed appreciable absorbing and *light-scattering power. 1935Trans. Faraday Soc. XXXI. 1324 We may therefore conclude that the main factor in the light-scattering of an isotropic protein is the molecular weight of the protein and that its scattering power is a true measure of its molecular dimensions. 1965Peacocke & Drysdale Molecular Basis Heredity iv. 34 The hydrodynamic and light-scattering measurements both indicate that in solution its configuration is that of a stiffened coil, rather than that of a rigid rod or of a completely random coil. 1972Billingham & Jenkins in A. D. Jenkins Polymer Sci. I. ii. 147 Despite the complexity and expense of the technique, light scattering remains one of the most useful techniques for the determination of weight average molecular weights of polymers.
1895E. B. Titchener in Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. VII. 82 Lichtempfindung, *light sensation. 1914Williams & Waterlow tr. Mach's Analysis of Sensations x. 211 The habit of..giving attention to a large and spatially cohering mass of light-sensations. 1924R. M. Ogden tr. Koffka's Growth of Mind iii. §13. 134 The most varied light-, dark-, and colour-sensations. 1937Discovery July 216/1 The nature of light-sensation, colour-tone, colour-blindness.
1853Rock Ch. of Fathers III. ii. 110 Each one according to the extent of land he had, should pay into his parish church..a certain quantity of wax under the name of *light-shot.
1966E. Denson in Berkeley Barb 1 Apr. 4/1 Led by Tony Martin's *light show, which fills the huge wall behind the bands and their 30 foot row of amplifiers and electronics with red shapes shifting in time to the music, the hall is filled with swaying, writhing people. 1967Ramparts 9 Mar. 12/1 The light show atmospheric technique of projecting slides and wild colors on the walls during rock dances. 1969It 11–24 Apr. 13/1 If it is regarded that lightshows began when the ‘underground’ or ‘psychedelic’ revolutions began, then it is doubtful that lightshows will ever recover from the damage inflicted during the capitalists' rape of those movements. 1971E. E. Landy Underground Dict. 120 Light shows are given in auditoriums, coffeehouses, etc. They are put on for the purpose of simulating a hallucinogenic experience.
1836N. P. Willis Inklings of Adventure I. 206 In another moment the *light stand was swept from between us, and he struck me down with a blow that would have felled a giant. 1867A. D. Whitney Summer in L. Goldthwaite's Life vi. 119 On this little green stood..a round white-pine light-stand with her work-basket and a few books. 1966A. Feininger Compl. Photographer iv. 154 A boom extension arm that fits on a light stand is invaluable.
1953Aids to Navigation Manual (U.S. Coast Guard) xxix. 3/1 The mission of a *light station is to service, tend, and maintain a light on a fixed structure. 1956Navigation Dict. (U.S. Naval Oceanogr. Office) 124/1 Light station, a group of buildings including a lighthouse and additional buildings housing personnel, fog signal, radiobeacon, and any other equipment associated with the lighthouse. 1969Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 21 Dec. 16/1 It was December 1934 at Pachena Point, a lonely lightstation on Vancouver Island's stormy west coast. 1971Bahamian Rev. Nov. 5/3 Mrs. Pierre grew up on light stations, as her father was a light-keeper.
1884J. Parker Apost. Life III. 177 *Light-struck, stunned, dazed, disabled. 1890Anthony's Photogr. Bull. III. 105 Five or six [plates]..were too badly light-struck to show whether they had ever been exposed in the camera or not.
1884Athenæum 27 Dec. 864/3 We..were doubtful whether the chamber [of the camera] was *light-tight. 1911T. E. Lawrence Let. 31 Mar. (1938) 101 How to render light-tight a dark slide. 1942R.A.F. Jrnl. 2 May 13 One of the..operators had just completed a spool, and my guide took it from her when she had fitted it into its light-tight case. 1970Jrnl. General Psychol. LXXXII. 208 Behind the opening were a slide holder and a 12 volt d.c. light, both enclosed in a light-tight housing.
1920A. S. Eddington Space, Time & Gravitation 12 But then you must know the speed of the earth through the aether. It may have shortened the *light-time by going some way to meet the light coming from Arcturus. 1952Astrophysical Jrnl. CXVI. 211 The problem of the determination of the light-time orbit will occur with increasing frequency as the observational data become more accurate and extend over greater stretches of time. 1968P. R. Escobal Methods Astrodynamics vi. 185 (heading) Light time correction.
1677R. Cary Chronol. ii. i. xi. 120 A Pharos or *Light-Tower. 1834L. Ritchie Wand. by Seine 39 The light-towers of the Heve.
1906R. C. Bayley Compl. Photographer ix. 99 Many otherwise efficient ventilating systems are rendered almost useless by the *light trap. 1931A. D. Imms Recent Adv. Entomol. vi. 141 In many countries practical entomologists have made use of light traps as a means for the quantitative attraction and destruction of noxious species of Lepidoptera. 1935H. W. & M. Miles Insect Pests Glasshouse Crops iii. 54 Light-traps also attract the moths and might be used with advantage in cases of persistent infestation. 1965M. J. Langford Basic Photogr. xv. 266 If..the darkroom is designed for entry or exit of staff without introducing light, some form of ‘light trap’ is essential. 1973Entomologist's Rec. LXXXV. 95 On the night of May 19th I had an unusual, yet unfortunate, bonus of moths in my light trap.
1956Focal Encycl. Photogr. 677/1 Many darkrooms..have *light-trapped entrances so that the staff can pass freely in and out while sensitized materials are being handled. 1958Newnes Compl. Amat. Photogr. iv. 75 The leading end of the film projects through a light-trapped slit, ready for loading into the camera.
1956Focal Encycl. Photogr. 680/1 Exposure values, as used on shutters, are also frequently referred to as *light values. 1957T. L. J. Bentley Man. Miniature Camera (ed. 5) iv. 46 As the latest development in the between-lens type of shutter has come the so-called light-value shutter. 1958Newnes Compl. Amat. Photogr. ii. 38 The light-value shutter is a modern device..designed to make speed and aperture setting more easy, and making use of the light value system. 1970Which? June 186/2 You then point the meter at the subject and the needle will move along the light value scale... On some meters, instead of transferring the light value from one scale to another, you move a pointer until it overlaps the needle.
1928Trans. Soc. Motion Pict. Engin. XII. 730 (heading) Sound recording with the *light valve. 1932Discovery July 234/2 Three light valves (each a specially developed form of Kerr cell) modulated the beams from the arcs. 1971L. B. Happé Basic Motion Pict. Technol. v. 165 In variable density recording the intensity of illumination passing into this lens system from a lamp and condenser lens is modulated by a light valve consisting of a pair of narrow metal ribbons mounted under tension in a magnetic field at right angles to the direction of the film movement.
1858Merc. Marine Mag. V. 126 A *Light-vessel has been moored in 3 fathoms.
1925V. G. Childe Dawn European Civilization v. 82 The palace was probably provided with a *light-well and decorated with frescoes. 1958Listener 23 Oct. 644/1 The nineteenth-century office block, with the quiet internal lawn shrunk to the scale of the light-well.
1888Athenæum 27 Oct. 558/2 The distances in *light-years of the last two stars. 1890C. A. Young Elem. Astron. xii. §433 It is better, and now usual, to take as the unit of stellar distance the so-called ‘light year’; i.e. the distance light travels in a year, which is about 63,000 times the distance of the earth from the sun. 1949A. Huxley Let. 26 Feb. (1969) 593 Hubble..showed us the first pictures taken by the 200 inch telescope... On the random sample selected, the nebulae went on with uniform density to a billion lightyears. 1957I. Asimov Naked Sun (1958) i. 22 That..momentary transition through hyperspace that transferred a ship and all it contained from one point in space to another, light-years away. 1962F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics vi. 289 (caption) Known stars within five parsecs (16½ light years) of the Sun. 1971Guardian 22 July 11/4 Professor Peter Hungerford..said..abortions should be the decision of the mother alone. This is light years from FPA policy. 1973A. Holden Girl on Beach 143 He really is..a spare-time amateur art critic, light-years removed from a creative artist.
b. Astr. Combs. modelled on light-year, denoting the distance travelled by light in the time specified; so light-day, light-minute, etc.
1923G. D. Birkhoff Relativity & Mod. Physics ii. 20 Since it required (t2-t1)/2 seconds for the light to travel from the one particle to the other, B must have been at a distance of x = (t2-t1)/2 ‘light-seconds’ from A at the time t. 1925D. L. Thomson in J. A. Thomson Sci. & Relig. 215 A light year is over five million million miles, and the sun is only eight-and-a-half light minutes from the earth. 1963Nature 18 May 651/2 If the flashes are real, either the optical source itself is of the order of light-days in size, or..it must contain substructures of this scale. 1964Astrophysical Jrnl. CXL. 15 Consider a region one light-month. i.e., 7 × 1016 cm, in radius. Ibid., A maximum flash duration of only a few hours is possible for a region a light-month in radius. 1970Sci. Amer. Dec. 25/3 The rapid changes in flux imply that if quasi-stellar objects are as remote as their red shifts indicate, they must have diameters reckoned in light-months, or even less. This means that such objects are on a scale only slightly larger than that of our solar system, which is about one light-day in diameter.
Add:[12.] b. Hairdressing. = high light n. 1 b.
1963‘N. Dunn’ Up Junction 22 We go into the chemist. ‘I want a black rinse, please, with blue lights in it.’ 1967N. Freeling Strike Out 27 Brown hair with blonde lights. 1979J. Rathbone Joseph i. xiii. 130 Her darkish hair had coppery lights in it. 1995Hair Apr.–May 24/1 (caption) Be bold with colour... Choose a full head application or ask about high, low or slicing techniques that give reflective lights to natural colourings.
[16.] light-emitting diode Electronics = LED n.
1968Electronics World Jan. 36 (heading) *Light-emitting diode. 1978Pasachoff & Kutner University Astron. ix. 271 Gallium production..is used in many solid state devices including the light-emitting diodes (LED's) that form the digits on most pocket calculators and digital watches. 1986Sci. Amer. Oct. 52/2 The light source is a semiconductor laser or a light-emitting diode.
▸ colloq.to punch (also knock, etc.) (a person's) lights out: to knock (a person) unconscious (cf. sense 1i); to strike (a person) with great force.
1966F. Elli Riot 74 Don't talk parole to me. I'll punch your lights out. 1987G. Carter & J. Hough Dream Season vii. 101 I'm not one of those guys who will fly into a white rage and try to punch somebody's lights out. 1995Washington Post (Electronic ed.) a1 I'm going to knock his lights out when I see him. 2003Guardian (Nexis) 28 June (Weekend Suppl.) 10 The constant repetition of ‘Om’ can help to induce a trance-like state—either because your brain has settled down or because your flatmate has just punched your lights out.
▪ II. light, a.1|laɪt|
Forms: 1 léoht, liht, Northumb. leht, 2–4 liht(e, 3 Orm. lihht, (4 lixt, lyht, lit), 4–5 liȝt(e, lyȝt(e, 4–6 lyght(e, 4–7 Sc. licht, lycht, (5 leyȝt, 6 leicht, lyȝt, lyȝth, liht), 4– light.
[OE. léoht, lī̆ht, Northumb. lē̆ht = OFris. li(u)cht, OS. *lîht implied in derivatives (Du. licht), OHG. lîht(i (MHG. lîht, mod. G. leicht), ON. léttr (Da. let, Sw. lätt), Goth. leihts:—OTeut. *liŋhto-(-tjo-), f. Teut. root *liŋgw-:—pre-Teut. *leñghw-, as in Lith. leŋgvas light; the ablaut-var. pre-Teut. *lŋghw-, Teut. *luŋgw-, appears in Skr. laghu, Gr. ἐλαϕρός light, ἐλαχύς small, OHG. lungar light; cf. also lung.]
I. In the primary physical sense and uses connected therewith.
1. a. Of little weight, not ponderous. The opposite of heavy. Also in to lie light (cf. heavy 1 b, c). light ice, light sails (see quots. 1867).
a1000Riddles xli. 76 (Gr.) Leohtre ic eom micle þonne þes lytla wyrm. c1205Lay. 5903 Heore wepnen weoren lihte. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. ii. 152 Was neuere lef vp-on lynde lyghter þer-after. c1470Henry Wallace iii. 85 Gude lycht harnes, fra that tyme, wsyt he euir. 14..Promp. Parv. 304/1 (MS. K.) Liht of wyhte, (P.) light of weight or mesure. 1534Tindale Matt. xi. 30 My yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 90 Al thair harnesse was lycht. 1613J. Dennis Secrets Angling i. C 2 b, Rods [were made] of lightest Cane and Hazell plant. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xix. 121 Watches have been made as light and little, as many that wore them make of their time. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. x. 51 How light wou'd lye the Turf upon my Breast, If [etc.]. 1762Falconer Shipwr. ii. 97 The lighter sails, for summer winds and seas, Are now dismiss'd. 1795Burke Corr. IV. 325 It [wheat] will be very light in the ear. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Light ice, that which has but little depth in the water; it is not considered dangerous to shipping, as not being heavy. Ibid., Light sails, all above the topgallant⁓sails; also the studding sails and flying jib. 1871R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxiv. 64 Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven.
absol.1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxiv. (Percy Soc.) 108 Of the eyen the offyce only is the syght, To se..The whyte, or blacke, the hevy, or the lyght. 1659Stanley Hist. Philos. III. ii. 105 Touching judgeth many things, Heavy, Leight, and those that are between them. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 24 The art of weighing, again, has to do with lighter and heavier.
Proverb.1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 151 Light geynes make heuy purses. 1775S. J. Pratt Liberal Opin. cxvi. (1783) IV. 82 He..swore..that I should not leave him till his purse was as light as eleven-pence.
b. Deficient in weight (‘too light’); below the standard or legal weight.
1589Nottingham Rec. IV. 226 For chaungeinge of fowre light French Crownes. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 328 Be it so much As makes it light or heauy in the substance Or the deuision of the twentieth part of one poore scruple. 1622Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 115 Light Gold taken for merchandises sold. 1700Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 947 All Clipt and Light Money was called in. 1727Boyer Fr. Dict. s.v., This Guinea is light. 1869Tennyson Holy Grail 26 For good ye are and bad, and like to coins, Some true, some light. 1887T. E. Thorpe in Gd. Words 400 There is about {pstlg}50,000,000 of light gold in circulation.
2. a. Possessing little weight in proportion to bulk; of small specific gravity. In the 17th and 18th centuries often applied to water.
1559W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 41 It is a generall maior among Philosophers, that al light thynges contend upwarde. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. i. i. (1651) 232 Pure, thin, light water by all means use. 1632Lithgow Trav. vi. 260 It is the lightest water the earth yeelds..I found it so light, that I had no weight..in the bearing of it. 1683Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing 383 Founders call their Ashes Lean, if they are Light; because then they have little Mettle in them. 1683Tryon Way to Health vi. (1697) 100 This is the lightest of all Waters, it cools and heats quickly. 1726Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 6/1 The best Water is clear, transparent and light. a1728Woodward Fossils i. (1729) I. 13 The Earthy matter, that was softer and lighter, would be easily washed away. 1838T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 504 The charcoal is light and brilliant. 1846J. Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) I. 373 The seeds of the different grasses naturally divide themselves into light and heavy seeds. 1868Lockyer Elem. Astron. iii. §10 (1879) 59 Hydrogen, the lightest gas. 1876Harley Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 184 Light magnesia is obtained by the same process from the light carbonate of magnesia.
absol.a1619M. Fotherby Atheom. ii. xi. §1. 309 æqually compounded of Light, and Heauie.
b. Applied to elements whose specific gravity (or atomic number) is relatively low; light metal, a metal of low specific gravity, esp. aluminium or magnesium; so light alloy, an alloy based on such a metal.
1912Rosenhain & Archbutt in Proc. Inst. Mech. Engin. Apr. 323 It was decided in the first place to confine the investigations to alloys consisting principally of aluminium, which may be conveniently grouped under the term ‘light alloys’. 1924Proc. Physical Soc. XXXVI. 418 The other light elements, hydrogen, helium, lithium, carbon and oxygen gave no detectable effect beyond 7 cm. 1926Industr. & Engin. Chem. Oct. 1016/1 The production of the light metals has only been rendered possible by the comparatively recent work of chemists and chemical engineers. 1936R. P. Bell tr. Bjerrum's Inorg. Chem. 213 The metals fall naturally into two groups: the light metals with densities below four, and the heavy metals with densities above seven. The light metals are the most electropositive, i.e., they have a specially great tendency to form positive ions. Ibid., The light metals react readily with many substances. 1948‘N. Shute’ No Highway i. 12, I couldn't find anything about light alloy structures in fatigue prior to the year 1927. 1949A. J. Field tr. A. von Zeerleder's Technol. Light Metals i. 1 There is at the present time no standard value of this property [sc. specific gravity] recognized as a qualification for the title ‘light metal’. 1959Times Rev. Industry Apr. 55/1 Reorganization within the light-metal industries. 1962Appl. Spectrosc. XVI. 162/1 The data..show the great advantage of using a chromium target tube for light element analysis. Ibid. 159/1 Light elements are defined as those elements having an atomic number less than 25. 1969Jane's Freight Containers 1968–69 533/1 Containers: non-standard collapsible light-alloy.
†3. In comparative: Delivered (of a child).
a1300Cursor M. 8593 On a night bath lighter war þai. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 310 On wherfe þer scho was & lighter of a sonne. c1560in Depos. Rebell. 1569 (Surtees) 61 The morrow after the said Charles wyf was lighter. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. ii. 138 Our quene is instantlie lychter of a bony barne. a1783Willie's Lady viii. in Child Ballads I. 86 Of her young bairn she'll neer be lighter.
4. a. Bearing a small or comparatively small load. Of a vessel: Having a small burthen, or (the usual sense) unladen, without cargo. (Cf. heavy a. 4.) light engine (see quot. 1881). light line = light water-line. light railway: a railway constructed for light traffic. light porter: one who carries only light packages. light water-draught, light water-line (see quot. 1867).
1602in Rec. Convent. R. Burghs (1870) II. 133 Quither the schip be laydnit or licht. c1630Milton On University Carrier 22 He di'd for heavines that his Cart went light. 1665Lond. Gaz. No. 11/1 The Norwich sent in one of near Three hundred Tuns, a light Ship. 1703Lond. Gaz. No. 3968/1 The Privateer being light and clean, came up with her about 4 in the afternoon. 1729Moreton Apparit. 213 The Ship was sent light as they call it to Virginia for a loading of tobacco. 1794Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 220 To allow light Swedes to leave the Port of Leghorn. 1835Mech. Mag. XXII. 275 When the vessel is light, the speed of the wheels is increased. 1854Dickens Hard T. ii. i. 135 A deaf serving-woman, and the light porter completed Mrs. Sparsit's empire. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Light water-draught, the depth of water, which a vessel draws when she is empty, or nearly so. Light water-line, the line showing the depression of the ship's body in the water, when just launched, or quite unladen. 1868Act 31 & 32 Vict. c. 119 §28 A light Railway shall be constructed and..the Regulations..shall not authorize a greater Weight than Eight Tons to be brought upon the Rails by any One Pair of Wheels. 1881M. Reynolds Engine-Driving Life 111 A ‘light engine’—a phrase in railway circles that means an engine alone, without a train. 1894W. H. White Man. Naval Archit. (ed. 3) 47 The displacement of a ship between her light and load lines could be estimated, and would give the true ‘dead-weight capability’. 1923Man. Seamanship (Admiralty) II. 270 The portion of the ship's bottom, between the light and loadline, termed the tapboot, is difficult to protect from corrosion. 1948R. de Kerchove Internat. Maritime Dict. 416/2 Light line, the line of immersion at which a vessel floats when in ballast draft or light trim.
b. fig. or in figurative context.
1768Hume Balance of Power Ess. 198 The Athenians always threw themselves into the lighter scale, and endeavoured to preserve the balance. a1774Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) I. 321 Laden with years, and so extremely light of honesty, that [etc.].
c. light industry: an industry making use of relatively light and therefore easily handled materials. (Cf. heavy a.1 5 b)
1921San Francisco Chron. 20 Sept. 22/1 There may be maintained in a Commercial District..Light Industries, clearly incidental to the operation of an Amusement Park. 1930Economist 1 Nov. (Russ. Suppl.) 8/2 Only 22 per cent. is allotted to the building and equipment of factories devoted to ‘light’ industries. 1944J. S. Huxley On Living in Revolution 128 Encouragement must be given to light and secondary industries, for only so can a reasonably balanced economy grow up in colonial areas. 1957[see heavy a.1 5 b]. 1961E. A. Powdrill Vocab. Land Planning iv. 66 ‘Light industry’ is any industry which does not commit a nuisance by noise, smell, fumes, soot or grit. 1974E. Ambler Dr. Frigo iii. 156 The transformation he envisaged—roads, housing,..hydro-electric schemes, light industry, fertiliser plants.
5. Chiefly Mil. Lightly armed or equipped. † Also, lightly clad. light marching order (see quot. 1825). Also light horse, horseman.
c1386Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 15 Al light for somer rood this worthy man. 1600Holland Livy vii. x. 255 A light footmans shield he takes unto him. 1633T. Stafford Pac. Hib. iii. iii. (1810) 527 Captaine Taffes troop of Horse with certaine light foote were sent from the campe. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xviii. II. 111 He was overtaken..by a party of light cavalry. 1808Med. Jrnl. XIX. 305 His Majesty's 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons. 1813Wellington in Gurw. Desp. X. 527, I shall be with the Light division in the morning. 1825G. R. Gleig Subaltern iii. 48 The division was to enter the trenches..in what is called light marching order; that is, leaving their knapsacks, blankets, &c., behind, and carrying with them only their arms and ammunition. 1838Thirlwall Greece xx. III. 161 To send a body of Thracian cavalry and light troops to the aid of the Athenians. 1846Greener Sci. Gunnery 393 Carbines, for some light infantry regiments. 1871R. Ellis tr. Catullus xxviii. 2 Starving company, troop of hungry Piso, Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious. 1879Froude Cæsar xvi. 265 The legions had come light, without tents or baggage. 1891C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 49 To travel in America one must travel light.
6. a. Of a vehicle or vessel: Lightly constructed; adapted for light loads and for swift movement. light cart = ‘spring cart’ (see cart n. 3). light car, a small economical car made from light materials.
c893K. ælfred Oros. i. i. §19 Hy habbað swyðe lytle scypa & swyðe leohte. 1579Fenton Guicciard. i. (1599) 28 It contayned xxxv. light or suttle gallies. 1694Lond. Gaz. No. 3008/1 The Mareschal de Tourville had sent out divers light Frigats..to get Intelligence. 1716Ibid. No. 5473/1 The lighter part of the..Fleet, viz. Gallies &c. was in the Port. 1844Disraeli Coningsby vii. i, The arrival of a first-rate light coach in a country town. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ix. II. 480 Light vessels sent out by the English admiral for the purpose of obtaining intelligence. 1852Thackeray Esmond i. xiii, My Lord Mohun sent to London for a light chaise he had. 1882M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal III. i. 15 You had better go in the light cart. 1908Westm. Gaz. 16 Mar. 5/2 This being essentially a light-car year, more than ordinary interest is manifested in the 8-h.p. two-cylindered polished chassis. 1914Light Car Manual 1 Manufacturers have..solved the difficulty of how to produce a car which shall give all the comfort anyone could desire, and yet..compare favourably with the cost.. of a motorcycle and side-car. The whole secret of this solution is summed up in the words ‘light car’. 1963[see fore-car (fore- 5)]. 1970C. F. Caunter Light Car (ed. 2) p. xv, The popularity of the light car, particularly in its minicar form, had the effect in the 1960's of reducing the average size of motor cars in general.
b. Applied to small, relatively light-weight aeroplanes, such as most private (non-commercial) passenger aeroplanes.
1923Flight XV. 168/1 For want of a better term we have referred to the machine as a ‘light plane’, much as in the automobile world cars below a certain size and weight are termed light cars. 1933Meccano Mag. Mar. 192/1 Light aeroplanes will fly to and from these places from the main routes. 1965Nayler & Ower Aviation v. 56/1 The Piper Aircraft Corporation led the world in the sales of light aircraft in 1959. 1971P. J. McMahon Aircraft Propulsion xi. 331 Occasionally designers of light aircraft look to the possibilities of using automobile type engines as power units. 1971Flying (N.Y.) Apr. 39/2 In fact, it may well be the best all-around lightplane in the world.
7. Of a building: Having an appearance suggestive of lightness; graceful and elegant in form.
1762H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1765) II. i. 37 note, One of the lightest and most beautiful parish churches I have seen. 1818[see heavy a. 15]. 1837Penny Cycl. VII. 218/1 Unless [etc.]..such timber model would have given rise to a much lighter style of architecture. 1850Gloss. Archit. (ed. 5) 439 Small light spires.
II. Having the operation or properties of things of little physical weight.
8. Having little momentum or force; gentle, not violent; acting gently; moving, impelling, or manipulating something without heavy pressure or violence. Said esp. of the hand, a step, the wind, † a medicine, or medical appliance (obs.), and occas. of immaterial agencies. Also light of touch.
a1000Widsith 72 (Gr.) Se hæfde moncynnes..leohteste hond. a1225Ancr. R. 220 Uour dolen, þus todeled—uondunge liht & derne—uondunge liht & openliche—uondunge strong & derne—uondunge strong & openliche. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 88 Þese ben liȝt medicyns..& þese medicyns ben strongere. Ibid. 92 Þer is noon oþer wey, but a liȝt cauterization of þe senewe þat is hurt. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. iv. 69 This Citie must be famisht, or with light Skirmishes enfeebled. 1592― Ven. & Ad. 566 Waxe..yeelds at last to euerie light impression. 1765Foote Commissary ii. Wks. 1799 II. 22 There are risings and sinkings..as light as a cork. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xii, Ellena fled with lighter steps along the alley. 1833H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. iv. 51 The lightest of her shriller tones made itself heard. 1836Marryat Midsh. Easy xxvii, A tedious passage, from baffling and light winds. 1849Ruskin Sev. Lamps v. §8. 144 A painter's light execution of a background. 1856G. J. Whyte-Melville Kate Cov. iii, Gertrude..brushing away..at my back hair, and pulling it unnecessarily hard: no maid ever yet had a ‘light’ hand. 1863Woolner My beautiful Lady 16 Though her hand be airy light Of touch. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. IV. lxii. 229 His light walk. 1885Law Times Rep. LIII. 54/1 There was a light breeze from about S.W. by S. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. IV. 413 Inter⁓current inflammations should be treated on general principles but with a light hand. 1901Brit. Med. Jrnl. 5 Jan. 8 When the extent of the cardiac dulness has been determined by careful light percussion [etc.].
9. a. Having little density, tenacity, or cohesive force. Of soil: Friable, porous, workable. Of a cloud: Fleecy, vaporous, evanescent.
1523Fitzherb. Husb. §4 They [wheel-ploughs] be good on euen grounde that lyeth lyghte. 1707Mortimer Husb. 106 The common sort of white Pea doth best in a light Land that is somewhat rich. 1806Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2) 262 The district of Glenlivet is remarkably fertile, the soil being a light loam. 1816Byron Siege Cor. xxi, There is a light cloud by the moon. 1823J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 60 Sand..generally prevails to the amount of one half in light soils. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 208 Some of the lighter clouds doubled round the summit of the mountain. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa 606 A dull roar which made the light friable earth quiver under our feet.
b. Of bread, pastry, etc.: That has ‘risen’ properly, not ‘heavy’ or dense.
c1460J. Russell Bk. Nurture 339 Þan take youre loof of light payne. 1578W. Bullein Dial. (1888) 51 Eate light leauened breade. 1620Venner Via Recta i. 20 The fourth property is, that it [bread] be light, and somewhat open. 1747H. Glasse Cookery (1767) 145 Make it up into a light paste with cold water..; then roll it out. Ibid., Skim off..as much of the liquor as will make it a light good crust. 1864Mrs. Stowe House & Home Papers x. (1865) 112 Bread: What ought it to be? It should be light, sweet, and tender. c1895N. Midl. School Cookery Bk. 44 To make a light dough.
10. Of food or drink: That does not lie heavy on the stomach; easy of digestion. Of wine, beer, etc.: Containing little alcohol.
c1000Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 282/6 Melle dulci, leoht beor. c1000Sax. Leechd. III. 122 Drince leoht wyn. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 241 For yf a man ette fryste grete mettes and sethyn lyght mettis, the lyght mettis shal be annone defyet. c1510Interl. Four Elem. (Percy) 23 Canst get my mayster a dyshe of quales, Smal byrdes, swalowes or wagtayles. They be lyght of dygestyon? 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 9 A light repaste, suche as the bodie maye easyly and without incommoditee awaye withall. 1620Venner Via Recta iii. 69 The lights are of light digestion. 1693Congreve Dryden's Juvenal xi. 128 Apples..Mellow'd by Winter, from their cruder Juice, Light of Digestion now, and fit for Use. 1707J. Stevens tr. Quevedo's Com. Wks. (1709) 82 Don Diego took a light Supper. 1822–34Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 675 note, The lighter preparations of bark..are often found to be eligible tonics in hectic cases. 1832Lytton Eugene A. i. xi, The little family were assembled at the last and lightest meal of the day. 1880McCarthy Own Times III. xli. 238 The light wines of Bordeaux began to be familiar to almost every table. 1896Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 418 Rice and sago and such like puddings are not light or easily digestible foods. 1898J. Hutchinson in Arch. Surg. IX. 316 Beer, which you would think was lighter [than stout].
11. light in the mouth (of a horse): sensitive to the bit. (Cf. heavy a. 11.)
1727Bailey vol. II, Light upon the Hand [in Horsemanship] is said of a Horse that has a good tractable Mouth, and does not rest too heavy upon the Bit. 1884E. L. Anderson Mod. Horsemanship i. iv. 11 The beginner should be mounted upon a quiet horse that is light in the mouth.
12. Of a syllable: Unemphatic, of little weight or sonorousness. Hence, of rhythm, consisting largely of such syllables.
1887Colvin Keats v. 109 A perverse persistency in ending his heroic lines with the lightest syllables—prepositions, adverbs and conjunctions—on which neither pause nor emphasis is possible. 1901Bridges Milton's Prosody 90 Keeping therefore the term short, as it is used in the prosody of the Greeks, for the very shortest syllables, it is necessary to make two classes of their long syllables; and these I shall distinguish into heavy and light. Ibid. 96 The greater part of the poem is in a lighter rhythm.
III. Of little gravity or moment.
13. a. Of small importance or consequence, not weighty; slight, trivial. Of a sin: Venial.
c897K. ælfred Gregory's Past. lxii. (heading), Ðætte hwilum ða leohtan scylda bioð beteran to forlætenne. a1300Cursor M. 23021 Þai þat has bot sinnes light sal clengid be. a1340Hampole Psalter xxiv. 4 Godis wayes he calles his lightere biddyngis. c1400Destr. Troy 1424 Light harmes Let ouer-passe. c1430Life St. Kath. (Gibbs MS.) lf. 100 Presume not to blaber aȝenst oure goddes by lythe repreef. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxii. 51, I grant my seruice is bot licht. 1563Winȝet Four Scoir Thre Quest. Wks. 1888 I. 52 Breuelie considering the first part of thair titill to this thair supreme auctoritie, I fand it nocht only sclinder and licht, bot planelie inglorius. 1570G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 8, I made but smal & liht account of mi fellowship. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 51 Proscribing..whole families together, yea and that for light occasions. a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 308 Not only all evil doing, but even the lightest suspicions thereof. 1742Collins Ode Poet. Char. 1, If not with light regard, I read aright that gifted bard. 1753N. Torriano Gangr. Sore Throat 89 The Disease began with a light Shivering. 1772Junius Lett. lxviii. 338 This is no light matter. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 161 Against the lighter vices the ruling faction waged war. 1866B. North Yes or No! xii. 269 It was what the world calls a venial or light sin. 1871Smiles Charac. i. (1876) 25 They will be held in light esteem by other nations. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. III. 476 Windy tumidities..and therewith light diarrhœas are often associated.
†b. Of small value, cheap. Of a price: Low. Also light cheap = cheap a. and adv. (Cf. cheap n. 8, 9.) Obs.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 246 This Rescamiraduk..His letter gan rebuk, sette it at light prise. c1460Towneley Myst. ii. 236 That cam hym full light chepe. c1470Golagros & Gaw. 158 Thare come ane laithles leid air to this place, With ane girdill ourgilt, and vthir light gere. 1609Bible (Douay) 1 Kings x. 15 Al that sold light wares. 1641Trapp Theol. Theol. 267 That it comes to us so light cheap, is cause of thankfullnesse. 1647― Comm. 1 John iii. 18 Words are light-cheap, and there is a great deal of mouth-mercy abroad.
†c. Of persons: Not commanding respect by position or character; of small account. Obs.
1529More Dyaloge i. Wks. 175/1, I might by a light person somtime knowe a muche more substanciall man. 1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 169 b, Diverse other light marchantes within the citee. 1548― Chron., Hen. VII, 19 He set more by vile borne vileyns and light persones, then by the princes and nobles.
d. Used predicatively or absol. in various phrases: † (a) to set (a person or thing) light, at light; to set light by or of (a person or thing): to account of small value, to despise, slight, undervalue. to let light of (see let v.1 16). Obs.
c1475Rauf Coilȝear 635 Be Christ, said the Coilȝear, I set that bot licht. Ibid. 740 He was ludgeit and led, and set at sa licht. 1540R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592) Z vj, Nor set at light a childes yeeres and age. 1547Homilies i. Fear Death ii. (1859) 98 Let us not set at light the chastising of the Lord. 1594T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 132 We ought not to set light by that knowledge of it [the soule] which wee may attaine vnto. 1612Sir H. Mountagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 244 My Lord of Exeter chafes; I tell them we set it as light. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Sacrifice xx, Herod and all his bands do set me light. 1642J. Eaton Honey-c. Free Justif. 240 Thereby the words of the Scripture may be extenuated and set light of. 1771Wesley Wks. (1872) V. 317 It is no other than betraying him..to set light by any part of his law. 1810Scott Lady of L. i. xxiii, Light I held his prophecy.
(b) to make light of: to treat, consider or represent as of small or no importance.
1526Tindale Matt. xxii. 5 They made light of it and went their wayes. 1531Elyot Gov. i. xiii, Or if he be stungen he maketh lite of it and shortly forgetteth it. 1597Bacon Coulers Good & Euil in Ess. (Arb.) 150 If it appeare to be done by a sonne, or by a wife, or by a neere friend, then it is made light of. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 311 The Natives make light of such things as we call Colds. 1736Butler Anal. ii. i. Wks. 1874 I. 170 How great presumption it is, to make light of any institutions of Divine appointment. 1767Gooch Treat. Wounds I. 236 A Barber-Surgeon was called to her, who made very light of it [a slight wound]. 1815Jane Austen Emma i. xvi. 116 Making light of what ought to be serious. 1898H. Calderwood Hume iii. 31 A tendency to make light of reason.
14. a. Characterized by levity, frivolous, unthinking. Const. † of.
a1225Leg. Kath. 106 Þeos lufsume lefdi..ne luuede heo nane lihte plohen. a1300Cursor M. 3285 Ne was sco not o letes light. Ibid. 28568 Laghter light þat cums of gle. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 3346 Sum dros of syn, Als light speche, or thoght in vayn. 1375Barbour Bruce vii. 112 Licht men and vauerand. 1461Paston Lett. No. 405 II. 31 The Commynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 256/2 A monke moche Joly and lyght of his lyuyng. 1536D. Beerley Let. to Ld. Cromwell in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. xxxv. 257 Lyzth and foolish ceremonies made..[by] lyzth and undiscrete faders. 1554T. Martin Treat. Marriage Priestes LI iij, Being (as some were), light braines, runnagates, vnthriftes and riotours. 1571Grindal Injunct. York i. §1 Being circumspect, that you offende no man eyther by light behauiour or by light apparell. 1610J. Guillim Heraldry i. viii. (1660) 45 If light eares incline to light lips, harm ensueth. 1631Sanderson Serm. II. 3 A sober grave matron..will never be light and garish. 1641Vind. Smectymnuus 31 It never came into our thoughts to use a light expression. 1692Washington tr. Milton's Def. Pop. M.'s Wks. 1738 I. 469 Was there ever any thing more light and mad than this Man is? 1713Steele Englishman No. 27. 176 Publick Faith is now commonly talked of in the lightest manner. 1754Richardson Grandison IV. xxxv. 245 The light wretch's as light expression. 1823Scott Peveril x, The disposition of the young Earl was lighter and more volatile than that of Julian. 1834J. H. Newman Par. Serm. (1837) I. xxiii. 354 That light perpetual talk about him. 1856Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh iii. 319, I wrote tales beside..To suit light readers. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 58 They speak of friends in no light or trivial manner. 1882Stevenson New Arab. Nts. (1901) 86/2, I made some light rejoinder.
b. Of persons (chiefly of women) and their behaviour: Wanton, unchaste.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxxv. (Thadee) 3 Thadee..licht women wes & richt brukil of hyre flesche. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 144 Vntrewe men and light women of body. 1581Lyly Euphues To Schollers Oxf. (Arb.) 208 Did not Iupiters egge bring forth..Helen a light huswife. 1676Wycherley Pl. Dealer iv. i, To give up her Honour to save her Jointure; and seem to be a light Woman, rather than marry. 1826Scott Woodst. iii, Lewd men and light women. 1883R. W. Dixon Mano ii. v. 82 For nought beside vain dalliance cared they, And their light folly was before our eyes. 1895T. Hardy Jude ii. vi. 144 Jude..found the room full of..soldiers..and light women.
IV. Having the quick action that results from lightness.
15. Moving readily; active, nimble, quick, swift. So light of foot, light of person; † light-fingers (cf. light-fingered); † light to run (cf. light-footed). Now only arch.
a1000Phœnix 317 (Gr.) He [se fuᵹel] is snel and swift & swiþe leoht. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Þat man be waker, and liht, and snel. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9277 Welssemen..þat liȝte were & hardi. a1300Cursor M. 3730 Moght i not be sua light o fote. 1375Barbour Bruce xiii. 56 Fiff hundreth armyt weill in steill, That on licht horss war [horsyt] weill. 14..Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 577/14 Currax, lyght to renne. 1470–85Malory Arthur iv. ix. 130 Syr Accolon lost not a dele of blood, therfor he waxt passynge lyghte. 1480Caxton Chron. Eng. cxxi. 102 He was so lyght of fote that men callyd hym comenlych harold hare foote. 1503Dunbar Thistle & Rose 95 Lusty of schaip, lycht of deliuerance. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 213 b, That diverse persones havyng light horses, should skoure the countrey. 1567Satir. Poems Reform. iii. 70 To dance that nycht thay said sho sould not slak, With leggis lycht to hald the wedow walkane. 1583T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. iv. 54 He that was in the watch, saued himself with a light paire of heeles. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 205 Too light for such a swaine as you to catch. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. v. 342 He required the Cacique..to give him an Indian that were light, to carry him a Letter. 1669Worlidge Syst. Agric. vii. §11 (1681) 135 The more remote the Branches are from the Earth, the less are they subject to the injuries of Cattle, or the Fruit to light Fingers. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v., Among Astrologers, a Planet is said To be light, i.e. nimble, compared to another that moves slower. 1801W. Huntington Bank of Faith Ded. 15 It is common among horse-jockies to cry a horse down if his heels are too light. 1883R. W. Dixon Mano i. ix. 25 Well coloured was she, tall and debonair, And light and very swift.
16. That moves or is moved easily or with slight pressure; pliant, fickle, shifty, unsteady; facile, ready (of belief, etc.). Const. of, to with inf. Now rare. (See also light of love.)
c1320Sir Tristr. 1062 Þer to icham al liȝt. 1382Wyclif Prov. xviii. 14 The spirit forsothe liȝt to wrathen. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1699 Lucrece, He was lyght of tunge. c1400Destr. Troy 1229 He..Launches euyn to Lamydon with a light wille. 1483Caxton Cato C vij b, For euery man oughte to be lyght to heeryng and slowe to speke. 1513Douglas æneis x. ii. 57 Set in stead of that man, licht as lynd, Ouder a cloud or a waist puft of wynd. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xxiii. 32 The kyng, who gaue lyght credence to thaym causedde his vncle..to be beheeded. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 40 b, Be not lyght to byleue euery spiryte. a1529Skelton Dethe Erle Northumberlande 175 Be not lyght of credence in no case. 1538Bale God's Promises iv. (1744) 21 Thynkest thu that I wyll so sone change my decre? No, no, frynde Moses; so lyght thu shalt not fynde me. 1539Taverner Erasm. Prov. (1552) 6 The Lyon, lyght of credite, forthwith ranne upon the wolfe and slewe hym. c1570Foxe Serm. 2 Cor. v. 52 Some..use to giue light eare to such whisperers. 1576Turberv. Bk. Venerie 174 When hounds are hunted with in this sorte, they become so light of beliefe that [etc.]. 1597Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 367 To whom the chast Matron gaue light credence. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 80 At this exaction..the light Constantinopolitans grievously murmured. 1627tr. Bacon's Life & Death (1651) 56 A young man is light and moveable, an old man more grave and constant. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) VII. 410 Were he not to have been so light of belief. 1853M. Arnold Scholar-Gipsy xviii, We Light half-believers of our casual creeds. 1890Lecky Eng. in 18th C. VII. 46 A light man, in whom no person can place any confidence.
V. That weighs or presses but little on the powers, senses, or feelings.
17. Easy to bear or endure. Of an expense or impost: Easy to pay. (Cf. heavy a. 23.)
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. x. 15 Lihtro bið tuoeᵹe burgas in dæᵹ domes ðon ðær ceastre. c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. xi. 30 Min byrþyn is leoht. c1320Cast. Love 958 My burþene [is] liȝt i-nouh to beren. 1375Barbour Bruce ii. 521 Luff..all paynys maks licht. c1430Two Cookery-bks. 17 Ȝif þou wolt haue it a-forsyd with lyȝt coste, Take milk [etc.]. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ci. 121, I am content ye shall come to a lyght ransome, for the loue of my cosyn of Derby. 1562Winȝet Cert. Tractates iii. Wks. 1888 I. 23 The office of all potestatis is lycht to thaim and plesand to the subiectis. 1567Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.) 33 The paine, that is now present, schort and licht. 1605Shakes. Lear iii. vi. 115 (Qos. 1608) How light and portable my paine seemes now! 1611Bible 1 Kings xii. 4 Make thou..his heauy yoke which he put vpon us, lighter. 1772Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) II. 126 The afflictions of this present life will seem light. 1800–24Campbell Martial Elegy iii, Deeming light the cost Of life itself in glorious battle lost. 1882B. D. W. Ramsay Recoll. Mil. Serv. I. iv. 74 All that we had endured was light compared to the discomfort on board. 1896Mrs. Caffyn Quaker Grandmother 226 Your seeing me has been no light punishment.
18. a. Easy to perform or accomplish, requiring little exertion; now only qualifying a n. such as task, work, etc.; formerly often as predicate with clause as subj. † Also, easy to obtain. † Of speech: Easy to utter; plain. (Cf. heavy a. 24.) Phr. light duty: military service which does not entail full-time work.
c1000Sax. Leechd. I. 342 Hy habbaþ þæs þe leohtran gang. a1200Moral Ode 312 It is strong to stonde longe, and liht it is to falle hard. c1200Ormin 4500 Acc witt tu þatt itt niss nohht lihht To betenn hefiȝ sinne. a1225Ancr. R. 428 Þe leaue beo liht in alle þeo þinges þer nis sunne. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Prol. (1810) Pref. 99 In symple speche..Þat is lightest in manne's mouthe. 1340Ayenb. 99 Liȝt to zigge an sotil to onderstonde. a1375Lay Folks Mass Bk. App iv. 78 Þe nexte þing to here, And þe lihtest for to lere. c1391Chaucer Astrol. Prol., Ful lihte rewles. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 229 Glandule comeþ þe most part of fleume, & ben liȝter to resolue. c1440Promp. Parv. 304/1 Lyght of knowing or werking, facilis. c1449Pecock Repr. i. xvii. 100 It is liȝt for to answere. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 7 Yt is not lyght for euery man to drawe eny longe thyng from latyn into oure Englyshe tongue. a1555Philpot Exam. & Writ. (Parker Soc.) 335 It is not more lighter for him to slide and fall. 1610Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 451 Least too light winning Make the prize light. a1700Dryden Theod. & Hon. 247 Well pleas'd were all his Friends, The Task was light. 1788Franklin Autobiog. Wks. 1840 I. 186 The service will be light and easy. 1832H. Martineau Demerara i. 7 Invalids who were sufficiently recovered to do light work. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 123 To keep down the English people was no light task even for that army. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 239, I cannot promise you that the task will be a light one. 1916A. Huxley Let. 13 Feb. (1969) 91 He is still on light duty—so gets plenty of leave from Salisbury Plain. 1953A. Baron Human Kind xiii. 100, I shouldn't be here by rights. I'm a light-duty man.
†b. Phrase. of light [tr. OF. de legier]: lightly, easily. Obs.
c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 106 A man that is well garnysshed is not of lighte overthrowe. 1490― Eneydos xii. 45 All this people..Whiche shall mowe of lyght, aryse, and make werre ayenst the.
19. a. Of literature, dramatic works, music, etc.: Requiring little mental effort; amusing, entertaining. light comedian: An actor of light comedy. (Cf. heavy a. 20, 21.)
1597Morley Introd. Mus. 150 Madrigals, Canzonets, and such like light musicke. 1809Malkin Gil Blas x. vii. (Rtldg.) 355 The library abounded in romances. Don Cæsar seemed to give the preference to that light reading. 1827L. T. Rede Road to Stage 16 In small theatres, the light comedian must play the seconds in tragedy. Ibid. 60 In light comedy it is continually requisite to execute music. 1838Thirlwall Greece xviii. III. 79 æschylus was accounted no less a master of the light than of the serious drama. 1841Macaulay in Edin. Rev. Jan. 524 A great and rapid reform in..our lighter literature was the effect of his [sc. Collier's] labours. 1844J. Cowell 30 Yrs. among Players 43 The light and low comedy. 1849Blackw. Mag. Jan. 40 Light reading does not do when the heart is really heavy. 1872D. G. Rossetti Let. 20 Sept. (1967) III. 1064 Your idea of George's possibly finding an outlet in light literature does not seem promising to me. 1874W. P. Lennox My Recoll. I. 186 The highest walks of light tragedy. 1878Browning Poets Croisic xcv, From out your desk Hand me some lighter sample. 1880Daily Tel. 20 Dec., The old-fashioned plan of ending a symphony with a light and brilliant rondo, that lays no tax upon the hearer's wearied faculties. 1885W. C. Day Behind Footlights 118 The light comedian will complete the list of our company. 1885J. K. Jerome On the Stage 33, I remember the first time our light comedy attempted to sit down on one of these chairs. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. (1890) III. iii. 604 What may be called the lighter ornamental style, such as the after-dinner speech. 1888G. O. Seilhamer Hist. Amer. Theatre I. 23 Comedy parts or light tragedy roles. 1897National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 26 May 6/4 Miss Blanche is, perhaps, the cleverest little lady on the burlesque and light comedy stage. 1929Radio Times 8 Nov. 406/3 Journey's End..is not a memorial service; nor, at the other extreme, is it light entertainment. 1958Times Lit. Suppl. 5 Dec. 701/3 The climax, both exciting and comic, just succeeds in lifting this novel out of the light-entertainment class. 1961John o' London's 18 May 567/4 A more profitable career as a light-comedy lead. 1974P. De Vries Glory of Hummingbird iii. 27 Some more pretty good nature lyrics and then a batch of light verse. 1975Times 10 Feb. 3/7 Any programme of cuts..would have to be closely vetted by the IBA to ensure that they maintain a balance between light entertainment programmes and more serious productions.
b. Light Programme, one of the regular programme services of the B.B.C., chiefly featuring popular music and light entertainment. Also ellipt. as the Light. (On 30 Sept. 1967 its name was changed to ‘Radio 2’.)
1945Radio Times 27 July 1/1 Alongside these six regionalised Home Services there is to be available a new alternative, the BBC Light Programme... It will be built for the civilian listener. 1956‘M. Innes’ Old Hall, New Hall iii. iii. 205 No real American professor could be quite like that—not outside the Light Programme. 1959S. Gibbons Pink Front Door iii. 37 He had missed a particularly good boxing match on the Light. 1962L. Deighton Ipcress File xxviii. 180, I kept the radio tuned to the Light for the 6.30 bulletin. 1966B.B.C. Handbk. 45 The Light Programme seeks to provide a friendly and companionable service for those who are in the mood for entertainment and relaxation. 1968S. E. Ellacott Everyday Things in Eng. 1914–68 xi. 162 At the end of the war the Home Service and the Light Programme were established (1945).
20. Of sleep: Not oppressive to the bodily sense; easily shaken off. Hence also light sleeper.
c900tr. Bæda's Hist. v. ix. (1890) 410 Me liht slep oferorn. 1827Keble Chr. Y., Evening xiii, Be every mourner's sleep to-night, Like infant's slumbers, pure and light. 1844Dickens Mart. Chuz. xxxviii, I am a light sleeper; and it's better to be up than lying awake. 1894E. Lawless Maelcho II. ii. 21 A man who at all times was a light sleeper.
VI.
21. Free from the weight of care or sorrow; cheerful, merry. Obs. exc. in light heart. † Also glad and light, etc. † Const. of.
13..in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 239 Þou waxist heui þat was wel lit. a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 77 They mote singen and be light. c1400Destr. Troy 1411 All þere lordes were light þat þai lyffe hade. a1400–50Alexander 5332 Ȝit be liȝt & lete of þi sorowe. 1430–40Lydg. Bochas i. x. (1554) 21 b, The people were full glad and lyght. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 448 He was so light Of hir talking and of hir sight. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxvii. 23 Na ferly thocht his hart wes licht. 1778F. Burney Diary 23 Aug., I have rarely seen a very rich man with a light heart and light spirits. 1844A. Welby Poems (1867) 1 When my heart was as light as a blossom in June. 1884W. C. Smith Kildrostan 55 Now my heart is light again, and I Could laugh like children at a pantomime. 1893F. Adams New Egypt 146 He broke into a light laugh.
VII. 22. Of the head: Dizzy, giddy. Also of persons: Wandering in mind, delirious = light-headed 1 (now dial.: see Eng. Dial. Dict.).[Cf. sense 16; but there appears to be here a reference to a subjective sensation of physical levity.] 1590Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 72 And thereof comes it that his head is light. 1604― Oth. iv. i. 280 Are his wits safe? Is he not light of Braine? 1662R. Mathew Unl. Alch. §89. 141 He..continued very light eight dayes. 1791J. Learmont Poems 8 Light grew her head, her breast did beat. Mod. (Donegal) ‘He's a bit light at the full and the change’ (H. C. Hart).
VIII. 23. Comb.: a. in syntactical combs. used attrib. or as adjs., as light-density, light-draught, light-heart, light-land, light-marching; b. in parasynthetic derivatives, as light-bellied, light-bodied, light-boned, light-brained, light-built, † light-disposed, light-legged, light-mouthed, light-pointed, light-robed, light-spirited, light-thoughted, light-tongued, light-winged, light-witted adjs.; † light-eared a., ready to listen, credulous; † light-poised a., of light weight; † light-skirted a. (of a woman: cf. light-skirts), light in conduct, wanton (hence † lightskirtedness); † light-tailed a. = prec.; light-timbered a., (of a horse) lightly-built, active. Also light-armed, light-fingered, etc.
1823Crabb Technol. Dict., *Light-bellied, an epithet for a horse that has flat, narrow, and contracted sides.
1686Lond. Gaz. No. 2136/4 A white sanded gray Mare..*light⁓bodied.
1951Auden Nones (1952) 14 Of *light-boned children under great green oaks. 1974J. Stubbs Painted Face ii. 48 She was light-boned and well-fleshed.
1590Marlowe Edw. II, v. ii. (1598) H 2 b, The proud corrupters of the *light-brained king.
1953J. Cary Except the Lord v. 15 He was a *light-built man, very dark in complexion, with a somewhat hollow face, and a long sharp chin. 1956E. Muir One Foot in Eden 18 The crescent shadow Of the light-built bridge.
1967Times 28 Feb. (Canada Suppl.) 35/3 This method of operation has implications..for *light-density branch lines. 1967Jane's Surface Skimmer Systems 1967–68 30/1 The H.M.2 is designed for ferry services on light density routes of short stage lengths.
1870T. W. Higginson Army Life in Black Regim. 169 We could then ascend the smaller stream with two *light-draft boats. 1897Daily News 3 Mar. 5/2 Eight light-draught steamers for special service.
a1552Ld. Somerset in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 736 b, When one is ouer *light eared, the one way, and deafe on the other side.
1845G. Murray Islaford 37 There was a *light-heart briskness in the air.
1812Examiner 7 Sept. 563/2 *Light-land wheat, almost everywhere good. 1960Farmer & Stockbreeder 29 Mar. 73/1 The only complaint—a little rain needed on some of the light-land farms. 1974Times 15 Apr. 8/3 Dry weather over the past three weeks, rather too long a period for some light-land farmers, has made possible some catching up on the delays of March.
a1586Sidney Arcadia i. (1622) 87 *Light-legged Pas had got the middle space.
1888M. Morris Claverhouse x. 186 The active *light-marching Highlanders.
1884E. A. Anderson Mod. Horsemanship v. 18 It is dangerous to have a severe bit upon a *light-mouthed horse.
1824Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. 263 Its *light-pointed roof, its clustered chimneys.
1615R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 205 Swift is't [the water of the Kent] in pace, *light-poiz'd, to looke in cleere.
1876Humphreys Coin Coll. Man. xxiv. 326 A *light-robed female presenting her hand to three soldiers.
a1758Ramsay Some of the Contents vii, *Licht skirted lasses, and the girnand wyfe.
1607R. C[arew] tr. Estienne's World of Wonders 101 *Light skirtednesse and leuitie.
1600J. Lane Tom Tel-troth (1876) 133 *Light-taylde huswiues.
1777R. Potter æschylus, Prometheus chain'd 26 Unfruitfull labour and *light-thoughted folly.
1683Lond. Gaz. No. 1871/4 A *light timbered bright bay Gelding. a1825Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Light-timbered, light-limbed; active and alert.
1828Scott F.M. Perth xvii, To keep *light-tongued companions out of the way.
1604Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 269 *Light-wing'd Toyes Of feather'd Cupid seele with wanton dulnesse My..offic'd Instrument. 1763Mason Sonn. to Earl Holdernesse 6 Here, as the light wing'd moments glide serene.
1577H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture in Babees Bk. (1868) 82 For *lyght-witted or dronken, sure, men will name thee in talke. 1699Bentley Phal. 86 A foolish light witted fellow.
c. Special Comb.: light bread U.S. (see quot. 1966); light fantastic (see fantastic a. and n. A. 6 b), as noun phr., the movements of dancing; light-heavyweight (see quot. 1954); also attrib.; also ellipt. as light-heavy; light oil, any of various fractions of relatively low specific gravity obtained by the distillation of coal-tar, wood-tar, petroleum, etc.; light water, (a) water containing the normal (about 0·02%) or less than the normal proportion of deuterium oxide (so light water reactor, a nuclear reactor in which the moderator is light water); (b) a foam formed by water and a fluorocarbon surfactant which floats on flammable liquids lighter than water and is used in fire-fighting.
1821Western Carolinian (Salisbury, N. Carolina) 27 Mar., Crackers and *light Bread will always be found in his shop. 1880‘Mark Twain’ Tramp Abroad II. xlix. 225 Hot light⁓bread, Southern style. 1966Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. 1964 xlii. 20 Lightbread, any yeast-raised bread, to distinguish it from biscuit. 1970C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 77 Light bread, white bread. 1974Amer. Speech 1971 XLVI. 62 The notion that light bread is a recessive term is especially plausible because baking is rarely done at home and because supermarkets sell white bread or simply bread.
c1843J. S. Coyne Binks the Bagman (1852) i. 10 Then you're fond of sporting on the *light fantastic? 1892A. C. Gunter Miss Dividends ix. 128 ‘You dance very nicely,’ she murmurs. ‘Yes, for a man who has not tripped the light fantastic for years.’ 1913Galsworthy Dark Flower i. vii. 34 When I was your age I twirled the light fantastic with the best. 1953K. Amis Lucky Jim x. 114, I thought you'd all be on the floor by now... I'm not going to permit any more of this skulking about in here. It's the light fantastic for you. 1974L. Deighton Spy Story vi. 57 The inlaid sprung floor would still have supported a light fantastic or two.
1973R. L. Simon Big Fix (1974) xv. 104 It was the guy..who looked like a promising *light-heavy. 1975M. Kenyon Mr Big vii. 63 ‘These the heavyweights?’ ‘Light-heavy. Watch Hudson, in the blue trunks.’
1903National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 18 July 3/1 And now there is a new champion in a new class—George Gardiner, of Lowell, Mass., the holder of the *light-heavyweight title. 1913J. G. B. Lynch Compl. Amat. Boxer (App.) 234 Standard weights... Light-heavy weight, 12 stone 7 pounds and under. 1954F. C. Avis Boxing Reference Dict. 77 Light-Heavyweight, a standard weight division for professional boxers weighing more than 11 st. 6 lb. but not more than 12 st. 7 lb.; for amateurs 11 st. 11 lb. and 12 st. 10 lb. respectively. 1960M. Golesworthy Encycl. Boxing 210/2 Light-heavyweight—Started in America in 1903 by Lou Houseman, manager of Jack Root, who had outgrown the middleweight division. The limit was set at 12 st. 7 lbs. (175 lbs.) and it remains at that figure today. The division was first recognised in Britain in 1913. 1968Encycl. Brit. IV. 43/1 In 1920 light heavyweight competition was added.
1867Bloxam Chem. 452 The *light oil which first passed over is rectified by a second distillation, and is then sent into commerce under the name of coal naphtha. 1898F. H. Thorp Outl. Industr. Chem. 264 The distillate collected [from wood-tar] below 150°C. is called ‘light oil’, and is chiefly used as a substitute for oil of turpentine in varnish and paints. 1936Economist 22 Feb. 399/2 Increasing demand for the heavier oils has enabled a higher proportion of refinery production to be marketed in that form, and has reduced the proportion subjected to ‘cracking’ to obtain light oils, such as motor spirit. 1964N. G. Clark Mod. Org. Chem. xviii. 372 When light oil and crude benzole are distilled to give ‘Benzole’ for internal-combustion engines—over 70 per cent are treated in this way—a fraction embracing benzene, toluene, and the xylenes is collected.
1933*Light water [see heavy a.1 2 d]. 1947Crowther & Whiddington Science at War iii. 142 Vast quantities of water have been electrolysed, and separated into ‘light water’ and ‘heavy water’, the former containing hydrogen atoms of mass 1 only. 1956Nature 4 Feb. 204/1 Studies have been made of the pressurized light-water reactor and of the sodium-graphite reactor. 1968Guardian 21 Aug. 1/4 The air show's special fire brigade—using helicopters carrying ‘light water’. 1971Sunday Times 12 Dec. 45/6 American light water reactors are simple and in some ways cruder. 1972Aircraft Engineering Jan. 28/1 Using Light Water aqueous film forming foam, the team cut a knock-down path to the cockpit within five seconds of reaching the fire. 1973Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 7 June 42/2 The cost of a solar steam generating plant would now be about double the cost of light-water nuclear plants.
Add:[1.] c. Stock Market. Of trading: low in quantity, sparse. Also transf., characterized by sparse trading.
1875Chicago Tribune 8 July 6/3 Few buyers were present and the ‘mail order’ business also was light. 1882Daily News 27 July 4/7 The settlement was commenced on the Stock Exchange yesterday, and contangoes proved light. 1930Daily Express 6 Sept. 2/6 The turnover..remained light, the upturn reflecting an extreme scarcity of sellers rather than any considerable number of buyers. 1981Times 11 Aug. 14/2 Selling pressure was described as light. 1989Independent 10 Oct. 1 Trading was comparitively light in both currency and equity markets.
d. Of traffic: not abundant, sparse.
[1909Westm. Gaz. 30 Aug. 2/1 On lightly trafficked roads.] 1935C. G. Burge Compl. Bk. Aviation 136/1 The cheaper way at intermediate towns or where traffic is light, is to assemble the passengers at a central point. 1940Maryland (Writers' Program) iii. 313 This route..has relatively light traffic and few billboards to obstruct pleasant views. 1957Encycl. Brit. I. 233/2 Airports with light and limited traffic. 1973D. Barnes See the Woman (1974) i. 111 Traffic on Western Avenue was light. 1985Interavia Aerospace Rev. Feb. 163/1 Intercontinental airline routes with relatively light traffic.
e. Finance and Stock Market. Of a currency or share: relatively low in value or price.
1958Times 29 Dec. 6/4 For a time next year both the old franc and the new, the ‘light’ and the ‘heavy’, will probably be in circulation. 1963Rep. Comm. Inquiry Decimal Currency iii. 19 in Parl. Papers 1962–3 (Cmnd. 2145) XI. 195 The halfpenny systems give either a ‘light’ main unit, or a mil system. 1977Daily Tel. 13 Apr. 19 The lira is certainly the lightest currency, with nearly 900 units to the dollar. 1981Times 30 Apr. 26/4 Royal Bank of Scotland slipped 4p to 184p with its predators Hongkong & Shanghai 1p lighter at 130p.
[10.] Also (of beer), containing fewer calories than ordinary beer. Cf. *lite a. 2.
1971Advertising Age 1 Feb. 6/5 ‘The appeals are almost uniformly stereotyped,’ Mr. Brown said. ‘Coors is ‘America's fine light beer’.’ 1974S. Terkel Working ix. 526 ‘Light beer’—that's the ad phrase for watered and thin beer. So the schmucky kid thinks he's a stud fighting for the babe by consuming all that alcohol. 1981Bon Appétit Mar. 32/2 Light beer is the fastest growing segment of the malt beverage market. 1986Marketing Week 29 Aug. 16/3 Its idea of what makes a light beer light is that it contains 100 calories or less in a 12-oz serving. 1991Washington Post 6 Nov. a1/6 The rules state..that ‘light’ or ‘lite’..may be used only on foods that have one-third fewer calories than comparable products.
[13.] e. In superl. phr., as lightest wish, lightest word.
Prob. after quot. 1602.
1602Shakes. Ham. I. v. 16, I could a Tale vnfold, whose lightest word Would harrow vp thy soule. 1869‘Mark Twain’ Innoc. Abr. xxxvii. 394 The Autocrat of Russia, whose lightest word is law to seventy millions of human beings. 1936Punch 9 Sept. 287/2 My lightest wish..is eagerly served. Ibid. 30 Dec. 755 The millions that hang upon your lightest word. 1956I. Murdoch Flight from Enchanter viii. 100 This kindly body was indeed ready to provide staff of any description in response to a department's lightest wish. 1987Financial Times 29 Aug. (Weekend Suppl.) p. i/3 There are still a few operators whose lightest word can move individual stocks.
f. Bridge. Low; short of points for a traditional bid. to come in (or open) light, to begin or come into the bidding with less strength than is conventional.
1899A. Dunn Bridge 29 As the dealer's hand is not worth a single trick, a light ‘no-trumper’ means absolute ruin. 1906W. Dalton ‘Saturday’ Bridge ii. 46 A light No Trump, however anæmic it may be, is always preferable to a light red suit declaration, but a strong red suit declaration..is far better than an average No Trump call. 1935E. Culbertson Encycl. Bridge 265/1 A light bid is based on nearly the strength which it implies. 1959Listener 13 Aug. 262/3 Some players do not like to open light when they have a part score. 1971Daily Tel. 21 Aug. 8/3 A fine contract to reach on light values. 1976Bridge Mag. July 40/1 A good partnership must..console itself with the..gains which are brought in by one partner coming in light and the other not crucifying him for doing so.
[18.] c. Slight in amount or extent (and therefore not demanding).
1969Internat. Herald Tribune (Paris) 6 Nov. 14/4 (Advt.), Light knowledge of French. 1969in Halpert & Story Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland 109 A boy will be expected to do a ‘light bit’ of drinking. 1977Chicago Tribune 2 Oct. xii. 59/1 The diversified nature of this position is based in a southwest suburb of Chicago and requires light travel. 1987P. Lively Moon Tiger ii. 21 What she was retreating from was..any commitment more intense than light church attendance and an interest in roses.
▸ light cream n. chiefly N. Amer. a type of cream with a low fat content; spec. cream with a fat content higher than that of half-and-half but lower than that of heavy cream; cf. single cream n. at single adj. Special uses 1a.
1906N.Y. Times 28 May 7 (advt.) The day's make of ice cream requires eighty quarts of heavy cream and eighty quarts of *light cream. 2004T: N.Y. Times Style Mag. 19 Sept. 142/1 The bartenders at Balthazar have even swirled the sweet wine into a cocktail known as the Flip, which combines powdered sugar and light cream with a slug of ruby port.
▪ III. light, a.2|laɪt|
Forms: 1 léoht, Anglian leht, 3 liht, 4 lith, lyȝt, 4–5 liȝt, 4–6 lyght, 5 leyȝt, licht, 6 lighte, lycht, 4– light.
[OE. léoht (Anglian lē̆ht) = OFris. li(a)cht, OS., OHG. lioht (MHG. lieht, mod.G. and Du. licht): see light n.]
1.
†a. Bright, shining, luminous. Of a fire: Burning brightly. Phrase, on (of, in) a light fire: in a blaze (very common in 16–18th c.). Obs.
c825Vesp. Psalter xviii. 9 Bibod dryhtnes leht [Vulg. lucidum] inlihtende eᵹan. c1000Sax. Leechd. II. 30 Seoð þonne æt leohtum fyre. a1400–50Alexander 4464 Gods..Sum of latoun & of lede & sum of liȝt siluir. c1400Destr. Troy 8742 Ymages..Lokend full lyuely as any light angels. 14..Tundale's Vis. 2120 (MS. A.) Bryghtter..Then ever schon sonne that was soo lyȝt. c1420Chron. Vilod. 1300 (Horstm.), To stanche þat feyre þat was so leyȝt. 1583T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. iv. 57 b, At that tyme also was fire cried at Giethorne, and soone after, many houses were seene on a light fire. 1609Holland Amm. Marcell. 113 Now..we might discover smoke and light fires all the way along. 1643Trapp Comm. Gen. xx. 3 For methought, I saw all Heidelberg on a thick smoke, but the Prince his Pallace all on a light fire. 1652Warren Unbelievers (1654) 24 All Sodome was of a light fire. 1737Mem. G. di Lucca 110 The Flashes were so thick the Sky was almost in a light Fire. 1760Jortin Life of Erasmus II. 717 He piled those ancient books together and set them all on a light fire.
absol.c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 269 It is a foul lesynge to chese wittingly & meyntene þe lesse perfit, & forsake þe liȝttere, sikerere, & perfitere.
b. Of a place, the time of day, etc.: Having a considerable or sufficient amount of light, not dark. † In early use also with stronger sense: Brightly illuminated; fig. enlightened mentally.
c900Bæda's Hist. i. i. (1890) 26 Ðis ealond..leohte nihte on sumera hafað. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 103 Illuminacio mentis..þat is heorte be liht. c1205Lay. 7238 Hit wes an ane time, Þat þe dæi wes liht, and þe sunne wes swiðe briht. c1300Havelok 593 Also lith was it þer-inne, So þer brenden cerges inne. c1320Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2064 And to morewen, whan it is light, Sire, thou schalt have thine wille. a1340Hampole Psalter xviii. 9 Charite þat makis þe eghen of oure saule lyght & lufly. c1470Henryson Mor. Fab. x. (Fox & Wolf) xxiii, The nicht was licht, and penny full the mone. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 235 a/2 By and by commeth he with the letters, and delyuereth them: it was skarce lyght daye. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 90 Nocht be the day was lycht, nathir at noneday bot at evin. 1611Bible Micah ii. 1 When the morning is light, they practise it [euill]. 1704Norris Ideal World ii. Pref. 8 A man that has a light shop had need sell good ware. 1844J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. ix, The boy..got up before it was light on the following morning. 1861F. Nightingale Nursing 56 A patient's bed should always be in the lightest spot in the room. Mod. The morning-room is a nice light room.
†c. Clean, pure. Obs.
13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 681 Þat is of hert boþe clene & lyȝt. Ibid. B. 987 Wyth lyȝt louez vp-lyfte þay loued hym swyþe.
2. a. Pale in hue. Also = light-coloured.
1548Turner Names of Herbes (1881) 73 Siligo..is a kynde of ryghte wheate... Therfore let it be called in englishe lyght wheate. 1686Lond. Gaz. No. 2182/4 He had a light bob Periwig. 1727Boyer Fr. Dict., Light Hair, des Cheveux blonds. 1799G. Smith Laboratory I. 394 Draw your stuff quickly through, three or four times, according as you would have it deeper or lighter. Ibid. 305 Body [of artificial fly] light fur of an old fox. 1873Act 36 & 37 Vict. c. 85 §3 Her name..shall be marked on her stern..on a light ground in black letters. 1898Pall Mall G. 3 Feb. 9/1 Never back a bird which has a light or yellow eye.
b. Prefixed, as a qualification, to other adjectives of colour. (Usually hyphened with the adj. when the latter is used attributively.) light red, (a) pale red; (b) a pale red or reddish orange pigment produced from iron oxides.
c1420Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 617, 7 pannis integris de lyghtgrene. a1450Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 10 A lyght plunket colour. a1500[see glad a. 1]. 1530Palsgr. 239/1 Lyght grene popyngay coloure, uertgay. 1729Savage Wanderer i. 71 The dawn in light-grey mists arose. 1803J. C. Ibbetson Accidence of Painting in Oil 17 Light red, so called, is either calcined green vitriol mixed with a quantity of other substance, and called Venetian red; or calcined yellow oker. 1863I. Williams Baptistery ii. xix. (1874) 25 Beneath an ash⁓tree's light-green shade, There side by side the Three are laid. 1885M. E. Braddon Wyllard's Weird i. 14 A back⁓ground of light-drab cloth. 1934H. Hiler Notes Technique Painting ii. 125 Light red, burnt ochre... It is quite opaque, and may be defined as a scarlet modified by the addition of a little yellow and grey. 1958M. L. Wolf Dict. Painting 142 The red iron oxides found as natural deposits include Indian red, light red,..and others of lesser importance. 1970R. D. Harley Artists' Pigments ix. 109 Light red came into current use as a colour name during the eighteenth century, when it was generally used to indicate a brownish red prepared by burning yellow ochre.
3. Comb.: parasynthetic, as light-coloured, light-complexioned, light-haired, light-leaved, light-veined, light-waved adjs. Light Sussex, a white variety of hen.
1631Sanderson Serm. (1681) II. 2 A too-too *light-coloured habit certainly suteth not well with the gravity of a sermon. 1686Lond. Gaz. No. 2136/4 Left in a Hackney Coach..a light-colour'd gray cloth Sur-toute Coat. 1882Garden 4 Feb. 78/1 The American Ash is, as a rule, lighter coloured both in foliage and bark than ours.
1861Waugh Goblin's Grave 11 Her *light-complexioned face beamed with..good nature.
1843Mill Logic II. iii. xxiii. 149 The probability..that any given inhabitant of Stockholm is *light-haired. 1870Bryant Iliad I. x. 302 The husband of the light-haired queen of heaven.
1896A. E. Housman Shropsh. Lad lxiii, And fields will yearly bear them As *light-leaved spring comes on.
1909T. W. Sturges Poultry Manual xiii. 359 The *Light Sussex and the Buff Orpington are both blended in the White Orpington. 1938L. Pearce-Gervis Compl. Poultry Keeper & Farmer vi. 153 The top prices..are still made by the Surrey Chicken... For this market either Pure Light Sussex or a cross in which there is a Sussex strain is necessary, for the white flesh must be maintained. 1965P. Wayre Wind in Reeds xv. 224 A flock of four hundred Silky crossed with Light Sussex bantams.
1613–39I. Jones in Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) II. 50 *Light-vein'd marble.
1824T. Fenby Hymn to May iv. 5 Yon *light-wav'd clouds thy tresses show.
Add:[2.] c. light ale, pale-coloured bottled ale; also absol. in phr. light and bitter, a drink consisting of light ale and draught bitter in equal measures; similarly light and mild.
1893Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Rules & Price List 15 Mar. 77 Allsopp's Light Dinner Ale. 1903Civil Service Supply Assoc. Ltd. Price List 1 May 181 Bull Dog, Light Ale. 1914N.E.D. s.v. Treacle sb., Treacle ale, beer, a light ale or beer brewed from treacle and water. 1953Word for Word (Whitbread & Co.) 24/2 Light ale, pale ale... Light and mild, a mixture, pale ale and mild, half-and-half. 1979M. Leigh Abigail's Party I. 34 Tone, have a light ale, 'cos he got them specially for you. 1982L. Cody Bad Company xv. 111 Bernie..went to the bar to order a pint of light and bitter. 1986J. Milne Dead Birds xiv. 113, I wanted a light and bitter and no, I couldn't have one. Would I like a Schlitz instead? 1992New Musical Express 12 Aug. 45 He actually resembles the working class hero he's always strived to be, the ‘Armchair Anarchist’ with a bottle of light ale in one hand and an incendiary device in the other.
▪ IV. † light, ppl. a. Obs.
[Pa. pple. of light v.2]
Lighted, kindled, illuminated.
1495Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 27 Take a light candell and sette in the Fustyan brennyng. 1579Fulke Refut. Rastel 722 Neither was it the custome..to sett light candels on the aultars. 1601Holland Pliny I. 45 It quencheth..light torches dipped therein. 1606Chapman Mons. D'Olive i. i, Me thinks through the encourtaind windowes..I see light Tapers. 1632Lithgow Trav. vi. 274 With light candles in our hands.
▪ V. light, adv.1|laɪt|
Forms: 1 léohte, 3 lihte, 3–5 liȝt, 5 lyghte, 6 Sc. licht, 4– light.
[OE. léohte = OS. lîhto (Du. licht), OHG. lîhto (MHG. lîhte, mod.G. leicht), f. OTeut. *liŋhto- light a.1]
1. In a light manner (cf. senses of the adj.); lightly as opposed to heavily; nimbly, † quickly; † easily, comfortably.
In the phrases to think light of, † to care light for, etc., there may be confusion with lite, little.
c900tr. Bæda's Hist. iv. xix. (1890) 320 Þa wæs heo ᵹeseᵹen þurh tweᵹen daᵹas, þæt hire leohtor & wel wære. a1250Prov. ælfred 290 in O.E. Misc. 120 Þene vnþev lihte leten heo myhte. a1300Cursor M. 18059 Fra hus he lepe selcutli light. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 272 He wend haf had fulle light, Edward at his wille. c1420Anturs of Arth. 653 And þane to þe lystis þe lordis leppis fulle lyghte. c1449Pecock Repr. 268 Euery thing lijk to an other thing bringith into ymaginacioun and into mynde better and liȝtir and esier the thing to him lijk, than the thing to him lasse lijk. 1483Caxton G. de la Tour L ij, Blessed be the houre that my suster clothed her so light. 1573Satir. Poems Reform. xlii. 432 Thocht of the matter thay pas licht. 1590Greene Never too Late (1600) N 1 b, So light the Ferriman for loue doth care, As Venus passe not if she pay no fare. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. viii. 10 His boystrous club, so buried in the ground, He could not rearen up againe so light. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 401 Euerie Elfe and Fairie spright, Hop as light as bird from brier. 1592― Ven. & Ad. 1028 The grasse stoops not, she treads on it so light. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 308 He..treads so light he scarcely prints the Plains. 1807Wordsw. Song at Feast Brougham Castle 75 Thoughts that pass Light as the wind along the grass. 1871Rossetti Last Confession 401 She went with..hands held light before her. 1896A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad lix, Lie you easy, dream you light.
Proverb.1546J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 77 Light come, light go. 1712Arbuthnot John Bull iii. iv, Light come, light go, he cares not a farthing. 1857Hughes Tom Brown i. ix, Light come, light go; they wouldn't have been comfortable with money in their pockets in the middle of the half.
2. Comb. (with pres. and pa. pples.) as light-bounding, light-charged, light-clad, light-disposed, light-harnessed, light-loaded, light-poised, etc.
1533–4Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 17 Many wilfull and light disposed persons..haue attempted the..violacion of the same statutes. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. (1634) Pref., The light-beleeving and ignorant multitude. 1596Edw. III, i. ii, Nor rusting canker have the time to eat Their light-borne snaffles. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus' Ann. i. xiii. (1622) 24 The Bructeri..Stertinius ouerthrew with a company of light harnessed souldiers. 1725Pope Odyss. viii. 303 Light⁓bounding from the earth, at once they rise. 1726–46Thomson Winter 645 The fop light-fluttering spreads his mealy wings. 1742Young Nt. Th. v. 463 Earth's inchanted cup With cool reserve light-touching. 1750Chatham in Seward Anecd. (1796) III. 386 'Midst all the tumults of the warring sphere, My light-charg'd bark may haply glide. 1751Act 24 Geo. II, c. 8 §17 Damages do often happen to light-loaded Barges..by deep-loaded Barges..lying across..in the said Rivers. 1776Mickle tr. Camoens' Lusiad 227 The dancers' heels light-quivering beat the ground. 1777R. Potter æschylus, Agamem. 236 Fond as a boy to chace The winged bird light-flitting round. 1798W. Sotheby tr. Wieland's Oberon (1826) II. 152 A veil, light-shadowing each voluptuous charm. 1812Byron Ch. Har. i. lxxiii, With milk-white crest, gold spur, and light-pois'd lance. 1823Roscoe Sismondi's Lit. Eur. (1846) II. xxxi. 329 Our light-swung hammocks answering to the breeze. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. III. xliv. 269 Lighter-clad intelligence. 1883F. M. Wallem Fish Supply Norway 31 (Fish. Exhib. Publ.) Add..a few light-fried truffles or mushrooms. 1883R. W. Dixon Mano ii. vi. 84 The Saracen's curved sword and light-wrought mail.
▪ VI. † light, adv.2 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.
a900Cynewulf Crist 1239 (Gr.) Þæt hy fore leodum leohte blicaþ. 971Blickl. Hom. 127 [Leohtfatu] leohte & beorhte scinaþ ælce niht. c1230Hali Meid. 43 Euch heate of þe hali gast þat bearneð se lihte wiðute wastinde. c1275XI Pains of Hell 68 in O.E. Misc. 149 A hwel of stele is furþer mo And berneþ lihte and turneþ o. a1310in Wright Lyric P. 33 In uche londe heo leometh liht. c1384Chaucer H. Fame iii. 199 These walles of berile..shoone ful lyghter than a glas. c1470Golagros & Gaw. 485 With fel lans on loft, lemand ful light. 14..Lydg. Siege Harfleur in Arb. Garner VIII. 17 With men of arms that lyth did leme. c1710C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 137 Its [sc. coal] in great pieces and so Cloven burns light so as the poorer sort works by it.
Comb.a1400–50Alexander 553 Þe liȝt lemand late laschis fra þe heuyn.
▪ VII. light, v.1|laɪt|
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. tense. 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.
c1000in Narrat. Angl. Conscrip. (Cockayne) 8 Ða wolde ic minne þurst lehtan. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 214 Thou shalte lyght the trauaillis of thy baronage. c1440Promp. Parv. 304/1 Lyghtyn chargys or byrdenys, deonero. Ibid., Lyghteyn, or make wyghtys more esy (P. lightyn burdens, heuy weightis) allevio. 1552Huloet, Lyghten or make easye, læuigo, leuo. 1578Banister Hist. Man i. 34 We finde the same [bone] here, and there, attenuated, and lighted with long lynes, and flatted sides. 1582Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 67 Nor backward skewd I myn eyesight, In graue of holy Ceres tyl that my burden I lighted. a1600Montgomerie Sonn. li. 6 Vhilk slaiks my sorou..And lights my louing largour at the leist.
2. a. To relieve of a (material) load or burden; to unload (a ship). Also, to ‘relieve’ (a person) of his property by plundering. ? Obs.
a1225Ancr. 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. 1375Barbour Bruce iii. 624 Thar schip thai lychtyt sone. 1545T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 34 They can not..containe or draw any moore, tyll they be lighted and dischargyd of that that is drawen already. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. xii. 42 Where we must land some of our passengers, And light this weary vessell of her lode. 1623Bingham Xenophon 127 Tereus..was lighted of all his baggage by these men. 1637B. Jonson Sad Sheph. i. ii, The wash'd Flocks are lighted of their wooll. 1715–20Pope Iliad xi. 208 Many a car, now lighted of its lord. 1756in 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.
c1394P. Pl. Crede 79 Þat þe lace of oure ladie smok liȝteþ hem of children. c1400Mandeville (1839) vi. 71 Where oure Lady rested hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord. c1460Towneley Myst. xiii. 337, I shall say thou was lyght Of a knaue childe this nyght. 1494Fabyan Chron. vii. 339 Leuynge his wyfe with hir modyr tyll she were lyghted of chylde. 1542Will of R. Slanye (Somerset Ho.) Yf..she be lighted of a childe wherwt she goeth nowe. 1774Churchw. Acc. Norton & Lenchwick, Worcestersh. (MS.) Pd Mrs. Sanders for liting Ben Turner wife. 1886Chesh. Gloss. s.v., Is your wife lighted?
†3.
a. To relieve (of pain, sorrow, etc.); to comfort, gladden, cheer (a person, his heart, etc.). Obs.
c1000Sax. Leechd. II. 186 Þicge þæt seofon niht, þonne liht þæt þone ᵹeswencedan maᵹan. c1220Bestiary 375 Liȝten him of his birdene. a1225Ancr. R. 356 Worp awei urom me alle mine gultes, þet ich beo ilihted of hore heuinesse. a1300Cursor M. 5727 He light þam o þair wa. c1384Chaucer H. Fame i. 467 Venue, The whiche I prey..vs ay of oure sorwes lyghte. 1388Wyclif Isa. ix. i, The lond of Zabulon and the lond of Neptalym was releessid [v. rr. aliȝted, liȝtid]. a1400–50Alexander 2814, I shall lefe & be lightyd; ȝarfore be ȝe light. c1440Jacob's Well xl. 249 Of oþeris charge þou art lyȝthed. c1470Henryson Mor. Fab. Prol. iii, Ane mery sport To licht the spreit. 1473M. Paston in P. Lett. III. 77 Ye have lyghtyd myne hert therin by a pound. 1529More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 1171/1 A merye tale wyth a frende, refresheth a manne muche, and..lyghteth his mynd. 1530Palsgr. 611/2 This tydynges lyghteth me well. 1597A. M. tr. 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.
a1300Cursor M. 5163 Þan bigan his ert to light. c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 388 It was so fair a sighte That it made alle hire hertes for to lighte. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ix. xxii. (Tollem. MS.), In þe dawenynge siknesse of bestes lyȝteþ [ed. 1535 is lyghted] and abateþ. a1400–50Alexander 5255 Sire Alexander hire a-vises & all his hert liȝtis. c1460Towneley 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.
a1619M. Fotherby Atheom. i. viii. §2 (1622) 56 Though he were very witty..yet by his inconstancy, he lighted his authority. [L. levatur authoritas]. 1822Galt Entail III. viii. 81 When the Laird lights the Leddy, so does a' the kitchen boys.
5. a. Naut. (trans. and absol.) (See quot. 1867.)
1841Dana 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. c1860H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 45 The men on the yard..light out on their respective sides. 1867Smyth 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. 1882Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 132 All..light the sail out to windward together.
b. ? Hence to light out (U.S. slang): to decamp, ‘make tracks’. to light in (or light into): to attack; to go at. (U.S. colloq.)
1866‘Mark Twain’ Lett. from Hawaii (1967) 32 And you want to know what made me light out of bed so sudden last night? Only a ‘santipede’. 1878J. H. Beadle Western Wilds xii. 187 They double-quicked into town and lit in generally. 1884‘Mark Twain’ Huck. Finn i. 2 And so when I couldn't stand it no longer, I lit out. 1888Cornh. Mag. Oct. 373 He may light out for the country, railing West to a young city yet on the boom. 1889K. Munroe Golden Days xiv. 156 You've got the levellest head of any man that ever lit into the diggings. 1890Century Mag. Feb. 525/2 We'll light out an' find your brother. 1917Freeman & Kingsley Alabaster Box i. 3 He'll light into those hot doughnuts. 1948‘J. Tey’ Franchise Affair xxii. 262 The girl had lit out... She had dressed in a hurry and gone. 1967Boston Sunday Herald 7 May iv. 5/5 Chris did demonstrate he is prepared for a scrap in the coming campaign when he lit into Mrs. Hicks' proposals. 1969Listener 27 Mar. 433/2 Like a latter-day Huck Finn, he lights out for the territory. 1969New Yorker 19 Apr. 81/1 If the astronaut missed mentioning a rock I knew was there, I'd light into him afterward, just like a football coach critiquing a fumble on a film of a game. 1973Observer 15 Apr. 13/2 Inveighing against that new parliamentary building..lighting into..the proposed gymnasium.
II. To descend. Cf. alight v.1
6. a. 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.
c900tr. Bæda's Hist. iii. xvi. [xxii.] (1890) 228 He..lyhte of his horse & feoll him to fotum. c1205Lay. 5862 Lihteð of eowre blanken and stondeð on eowre sconken. a1300Cursor M. 3256 Biside a well he lighted [Gött. lithed, Trin. liȝt] dun. 1375Barbour Bruce xiv. 121 The erll of Murreff..Lichtit on fut with his menȝhe. c1470Golagros & Gaw. 130 The knyght..Reynit his palfray of pride, Quhen he ves lightit doune. 1470–85Malory Arthur ix. iii, They haue desdayne..to lyghte of their horses to fyghte with suche a lewde knyght as thou arte. a1592Greene Orpharion (1599) 19 Set a Begger on horsebacke, and they say he will neuer light. 1596Danett tr. Comines (1614) 188 All the nobilitie of Fraunce lighted on foot to fight with the English men. 1691J. Wilson Belphegor iii. i. Dram. Wks. (1874) 330 Sir, the company are now lighting at door! a1766F. Sheridan Mem. Sidn. Biddulph V. 175, I immediately lit off my horse. 1813Byron Giaour 587 Stern Hassan..from his horse Disdains to light. 1868–70Morris 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.
a1300Cursor M. 22020 He sal þam smett, and dun þam light. c1420Anturs 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.
a. 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.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 79 A mon lihte [L. descendebat] from ierusalem into ierico. c1220Bestiary 32 Vre louerd is te leun, ðe liueð ðer abuuen;..him likede to liȝten her on erðe. c1225Leg. Kath. 2494 Te engles lihten of heuene & heuen hire on heh up. a1240Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 217 He lihte in to helle. a1300Cursor M. 20531, I lighted doun and man be-cam. a1310in Wright Lyric P. 73 For sunful folk, suete Jesus, Thou lihtest from the heȝe hous. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 240 Ihesu cryste on a iewes douȝter alyȝte [MS. W. liȝte], gentil woman þough she were. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xv. 68 How..Godd sent wisdom in til erthe and lightid in Virgin Mary. c1420Anturs of Arth. 164 (Douce MS.) Withe lucyfer in a lake loȝ am I lighte. c1460Towneley Myst. vii. 115 He will lyght fro heuen towre ffor to be mans saueyoure. 1533Gau 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.
a1225Leg. Kath. 1011 Leaf þi lease wit þæt tu wlenchest te in & liht to ure lare. c1230Hali Meid. 5 Þat fram se muchel hehschipe & se seli freodom schal lihte se lahe. c1320Sir Tristr. 3340 Wel louwe he dede hem liȝt Wiþ diolful dintes sare. a1400–50Alexander 2362 Ȝit liȝt he law at þe last for all his lethire prid. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 395 Scho makis ane man rycht lawlie for to lycht, Quhome of befoir scho set so hie on hicht. 1570Satir. Poems Reform. xxiv. 64 Law sall he lycht downe.
†8. fig. To descend, emanate, proceed. Const. from, of. Obs.
a1225Ancr. R. 96 Ȝif eni mon bit fort iseon ou, askeð of him hwat god þerof muhte lihten. a1225Leg. Kath. 1791 Te hali gast, hare beire luue, þe lihteð of ham baðe [sc. the Father and the Son]. a1400–50Alexander 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. 65 h, leg n. 2 c).
a1225Ancr. R. 132 Brid..uorte sechen his mete..lihteð adun to þer eorðe. c1250Hymn to Virgin 26 in Trin. Coll. Hom. App. 256 Þu ert eorþe to gode sede, on þe liȝte þe heouene deuȝ. a1300Cursor 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 moderkne. 13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 988, I syȝe..Ierusalem so nwe & ryally dyȝt, As hit was lyȝt fro þe heuen adoun. 1423Jas. I. Kingis Q. clxxvii, A turture..vpon my hand gan lyght. 1490Caxton Eneydos lix. 158 That egle that lighted amonge the hepe of swannes. 1530Palsgr. 611/1 Loke welle where yonder fesante lyghteth. a1541Wyatt Poet. Wks. (1831) 109 It is possible..to fall highest, yet to light soft. a1584Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 463 Luik quhair to licht before thou loup. 1592Warner Alb. Eng. viii. xxxix. (1612) 193 Snow, that lights & lies a moysture moystles. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. i. 244 If he must down, he seeks to fall easily, and if possible, to light on his legs. 1667Milton P.L. iv. 182 Th' arch fellon..overleap'd all bound Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within Lights on his feet. 1759Brown Compl. Farmer 95 If the swarms part, and light in sight of one another. 1828Scott Jrnl. 6 Mar., A feather just lighted on the ground can scarce be less concerned where the next blast may carry it. 1832Tennyson Œnone 102 On the tree-tops a crested peacock lit. 1852Thackeray Lett. 23 Dec., I have made scores of new acquaintances and lighted on my legs as usual. 1871L. 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.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xix. (Cristofore) 657 Ane arow done cane lycht & rewyt þe king of ane ee-sycht. 1489Caxton Faytes of A. iii. xxi. 218 His arowe lighte upon caym and slew hym. 1532Cranmer Let. to Hen. VIII in Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.) II. 234 If the stroke [of an halberd] had not light short. a1550in Dunbar's Poems (1893) 305 Fra he begyn to schute his schot, Thow wat nocht quhen that it will licht. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. viii. 18 The stroke upon his shield so heavie lites. 1604Rowlands Looke to it 41 There flies my Dart, light where it will. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 173, I reck not, so it [Revenge] light well aim'd. 1710Addison Tatler No. 155 ⁋2 But why in the Heel?.. Because, says I, the Bullet chanced to light there. 1784R. Bage Barham Downs II. 277 Some of the blows had light upon Lord Somerfort's head and face. 1855Stanley 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.
a1240Sawles Warde in Cott. Hom. 249 Ha [i.e. Death] lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen. c1320R. 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. a1400–50Alexander 4785 Quare it [the fire] liȝt on his like it lichid him for euir. c1400Destr. Troy 13686 A longyng vnlefful light in his hert. 1545Brinklow Compl. i. (1874) 8 If ye wil seke such ways, than wil the Holy Gost lyght in your councel. 1551Recorde Pathw. Knowl. i. v, Sette the one foote of the compas in the pricke, where you would haue the plumme line to lighte. 1577–87Holinshed 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. 1627Lisander & Cal. iii. 54 Lidian..entring with a point upon his enemy, lighted just betweene his arme and the curats [= cuirass]. 1629Drayton Verses 11 in Sir J. Beaumont's Bosworth F. 14 We are light, After those glorious Days, into the Night Of these base Times. 1651T. Barker Art of Angling (1653) 8 The Pearch feeds well, if you light where they be. 1697J. 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.
a1310in 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. a1440Sir Degrev. 513 My love is leliche y-lyeght One a worthly wyeght. 1526Tindale Matt. xxiii. 36 All these thinges shall light apon this generacion. 1556Lauder Tractate 149 Quhat wo and miserie Sall lycht on ȝow. 1579–80North Plutarch (1595) 236 Honour and reputation lighting on yong men before their time. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. ii. 366 But I do prophesie th' election lights On Fortinbras. 1607E. Sharpham Cupid's Whirligig ii. D 3 b, The plague of Egypt light vppon you all. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxv. 233 The best livings light not alwayes on the ablest men. 1667Milton P.L. x. 833 On mee..all the blame lights due. 1697J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 447 'Tis evident, that this Eternal Loss of Happiness lights to such Men thro' their acting contrary to their Reason. 1720–21Lett. Mist's Jrnl. (1722) II. 111 The Infamy and Reward must then have light on their Heads. 1832H. 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.
c1470Henry Wallace v. 1068 Ner hand..thai lychtyt apon Clyd. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. Sept. 259 Diggon on fewe such freends did euer lite. 1583Babington Commandm. viii. (1637) 82 Where may we live and not light of false forgers. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 109 Making spoile of whatsoever they light upon. 1655Stanley Hist. Philos. ii. (1701) 62/1 Not taking heed to the place, he lighted upon a precipice and fell down. 1659Fuller App. Inj. Innoc. i. 34, I thought he had lighten on some rare Evidence, out of the ordinary road. 1687Sedley Bellamira iv. i. Wks. (1766) 162 If I light of him I'll tear his goatish eyes out. 1738Wesley Wks. (1830) I. 38, I called at Alringham, and there lit upon a Quaker. 1779Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 16 Oct., How did you light on your specifick for the tooth-ach? 1839–41S. Warren Ten Thous. a Year I. i. 7 His eye lit on his ring. 1849C. 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. 1867Freeman 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.
1562Cooper Answ. Priv. Masse Pref., One of the Copies of this answere by occasion, as it fortuned..lighted into my hands. 1651tr. De-las-Coveras' Don Fenise 75 The letters which Teodore had sent were read, the which light in her hands unknowne to her father. 1672Marvell Corr. ccv. Wks. 1872–5 II. 405 Upon Thursday last I accidentally did light into Sir Philip Frowd's company. 1684–5South Serm. (1823) I. 221 A man by mere peradventure lights into company. 1833H. 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.
1607–12Bacon 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. a1661Fuller 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. c1746J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial To Rdr., Wks. (1862) 34 Let't leet heaw't will. 1790Mrs. Wheeler Westmld. Dial. (1821) 62 Haw leet it preia, dud it ivver run oway afore? 1844Disraeli 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.
a1450Le Morte Arth. 3355 Wrothely in-to hys sadylle he lyght. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 36 Soo lyghted anone on horsebak the goode duke Aymon. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxv. (Percy Soc.) 178, I toke my leave and on my stede I lyght. c1555Machyn Diary (Camden) 54 He lycted be-hynd a gentleman unto the cowrte. 1570Levins Manip. 119/28 To Light on horse, ascendere.
▪ VIII. light, v.2|laɪt|
Pa. tense and pa. pple. lighted, lit. Forms: 1 líhtan, lýhtan, 3 lihte(n, liȝte, leiten, Orm. lihhtenn, 4 liȝt, liht, lith, 4–5 lighte, 4–6 lyght, Sc. licht, lycht, 5 lyghteyn, (9 dial. leet), 4– light. 3rd sing. pres. ind. 1 líht, lýht, 3 liht, licht, 4 Kent. let. pa. tense. α. 1 líhte, lýhte, 3 lihte. β. 2 lihtede 4 liȝtede, 4–6 Sc. lychtit, -yt, 4– lighted; 8 litt, 6– lit. pa. pple. α. 3 liht, 3–4 iliȝt, 4 i-lyȝht, liȝt, 4–5 lyght, (5 lyghth), 4–8 light. β. 3 Orm. lihhtedd, 4–5 liȝtid, 6 lyghted, -yd, Sc. lychtet, lichtit, 4– lighted; 6– lit. γ. 9 pseudo-arch. litten.
[OE. líhtan = OS. liuhtian (MDu. lichten, luchten, Du. lichten), OHG. liuhten (mod.G. leuchten), Goth. liuhtjan:—OTeut. *liuhtjan, f. *leuhto- light n. or a.2]
†1.
a. intr. To give or shed light; to shine; to be alight or burning. Also, to lighten. Obs.
c1000Ags. Gosp. John i. 5 Þæt leoht lyht on ðystrum. c1000ælfric Gram. xxii. (Z.) 128 Fulminat, hit liht. c1250Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 27 Si gode beleaue licht and is bricht ine þo herte of þo gode Manne ase gold. c1290Beket 1382 Þe cloudene hire [sc. þe sonne] ouer-cast þat-heo ne mai no leng liȝte. c1300Cursor M. 24942 Þe lem can light, þe storm it fel. c1374Chaucer Boeth. iii. metr. xi. 79 (Camb. MS.) Thilke thing that the blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered, shal lyhten more clerly thanne phebus hym self ne shyneth. c1386― Pars. T. ⁋963 Right so shal youre light lighten bifore men. 14..Ave Regina in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 146 Heyle tho lampe that euer is lyghtand To hye and lowe to ryche and pore. 1646Crashaw Steps, Ps. xxiii. 66 A beame that falls, Fresh from the pure glance of Thine eye, Lighting to Eternity. a1774Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) II. 185 And that instant the taper which was lighting in the room was burnt out.
†b. Of day, etc.: To grow light. Sometimes conjugated with to be. Obs.
a1000Cædmon's Dan. 158 (Gr.) Þa dæᵹ lyte. c1205Lay. 28314 Ase þe dæi gon lihte heo bigunnen to fihten. 1382Wyclif 2 Sam. xvii. 22 To the tyme that the dai were liȝtid [Vulg. donec dilucesceret]. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. ii. 138 And that shall be the Day, when ere it lights [etc.].
2. a. trans. To set burning (a candle, lamp, torch); to kindle (a fire); to apply a light to (a combustible); to ignite. (Pa. pple. lighted, lit, † light = alight.) Also with up. † to light off: to ignite as an explosive.
1154O.E. Chron. an. 1140 (Laud MS.) Me lihtede candles to æten bi. a1225Leg. Kath. 1411 And tis ferliche fur schal lihten in ow þe halwende lei of þe hali gast. c1300Havelok 585 Blou the fir, and lith a kandel. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xvii. (Martha) 176 Þe sergis al scho lychtyt, bathe gret & smal. a1400–50Alexander 4231–2 Many liȝtis of a liȝt is liȝtid othire-quile, And ȝ it þe liȝt at þam liȝtis is liȝtid as before. c1400Destr. Troy 11792 No fyre wold be light; þat assait was full sothely of sere men full ofte. a1450Knt. de la Tour (1868) 23 He fonde..the candelle light. 1506in Mem. Hen. VII (Rolls) 282 Having great torches lit in his and divers other ships. a1547Bale Image both Ch. xiii. (1550) f 1, The candle that he lyght vs to se ouer the house. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. v. 19 Shyning lampes in Joves high house were light. 1604E. Grimstone Hist. Siege Ostend 219 With..their matches light, Bullet in the mouth. 1645Waller Of the Queen 14 Thither my Muse, like bold Prometheus, flyes To light her torch at Gloriana's eyes. 1649Roberts Clavis Bibl. Introd. ii. 29 What brightnesse is this I see? Have you light up any Candles? 1711Addison Spect. No. 46 ⁋4, I twisted it into a kind of Match, and litt my Pipe with it. 1717Entertainer No. 5 (1718) 28 Like Gunpowder, when they are lighted off, they [the mob] scatter Ruin and Destruction around them. 1763in Brand Hist. Newcastle (1789) I. 20 note, The lamps put up in the streets..were lighted up for the first time. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxvi, How would ye like to be tied to a tree, and have a slow fire lit up around ye? 1854W. Collins Hide & Seek ii. ix. (1861) 235 ‘He's the most generous fellow in the world’, continued Zack, lighting a cigar. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Universities Wks. (Bohn) II. 91 No candle or fire is ever lighted in the Bodleian. 1890Haggard & Lang World's Desire 128 A lamp for our feet the Lord hath litten.
b. transf. and fig.
1679Dryden & Lee Œdipus ii. 28 If an immodest thought, or low desire, Inflam'd my breast, since first our Loves were lighted. 1752Young Brothers iv. i, Each morn my life I lighted at her eye. 1866B. Taylor Anastasia Poems 267 Thine eyes were lit from other skies. 1883B. W. Richardson Field of Disease 211 It [Phthisis]..in nine cases out of ten is first lighted up by cold.
c. absol. to light up: to light one's pipe, cigar, etc. colloq.
1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xlix, ‘I suppose I may light up’, said Drysdale..pulling out his cigar-case. 1943J. B. Priestley Daylight on Saturday ix. 55 Blandford opened..a very fine silver cigarette-box, and both men lit up and were then silent. 1959C. Williams Man in Motion i. 6, I ripped open a packet of the cigarettes, found some matches..and lighted up. 1970H. E. Roberts Third Ear 9/2 Light up, to light a marijuana cigarette.
d. intr. To take fire, be lighted; transf. to ‘kindle’, become suffused with light.
c1400Mandeville (1839) v. 60 His Lampe schal lighte..withouten touchinge of ony Man. 1820–71A. Cary Poems (1876) 94 The eve had just begun to light, Along the lovely west. 1845A. M. Hall Whiteboy xi. 97 A sky, just lighting into a pale, bright gray—an intimation of the first dawn of morning.
fig.1860Geo. Eliot Mill on Fl. ii. iv. ‘You poor-spirited imp,’ said Tom, lighting up immediately at Philip's fire.
3. a. trans. To give light to (a room or the like); to make light or luminous; to illuminate; esp. to furnish with the ordinary means of illumination. (Rarely with up.)
c1200Ormin 7279 Crist iss ec soþ sunnebæm Þatt all þiss werelld lihhteþþ. c1205Lay. 25595 Mid his feure he lihte al þis lond-riche. c1250Hymn Virgin 12 in Trin. Coll. Hom. App. 255 A leome newe þat al þis world haueð iliȝt. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 2506 Phillis, The mone hath..Syn that thylke day..foure tymes lyght the worlde ageyn. c1400Destr. Troy 6038 Torchis and tendlis the tenttes to light. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. i. x, Cleare Dyana..Gan for to ryse, lightyng our emispery. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, iii. ii. 38 When the searching Eye of Heaven is hid Behind the Globe, that lights the lower world. 1715Notice in Lond. Gaz. No. 5351/3 They intend to..grant Liberty for Lighting the City of London. 1802Campbell Hohenlinden ii, Commanding fires of death to light The darkness of her scenery. 1840Penny Cycl. XVIII. 292/1 St. Andrew's church..is lighted with gas. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 362 Letters patent conveying to him for a term of years, the exclusive right of lighting up London. 1860Merc. Marine Mag. VII. 216 The Irish Channel is well lighted. 1870Morris Earthly Par. II. iii. 184 When he Had..reached the hut now litten bright. 1875Howells Foregone Concl. 3 An apartment so brightly lit by a window looking on the sunny canal.
b. to light up: to furnish or fill with abundance of light; to illuminate in a special manner; to bring into prominence by means of light.
1711Addison Spect. No. 50 ⁋7 A huge Room lighted up with abundance of Candles. Ibid. No. 90 ⁋7 The Room was lighted up on all Sides. 1824W. Irving T. Trav. II. 146 Lit up by the rising moon. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xi. III. 1 In the evening every window from Whitechapel to Piccadilly was lighted up. 1884‘Rita’ Vivienne ii. iii, The spring sunshine lit up the grey towers.
fig.1859Jephson Brittany xi. 180 Once you can succeed in lighting up their imaginations.
c. transf. (Chiefly with up.) To cause (the eyes, features) as it were to gleam with animation or lively expression. Also, to brighten up (writing). Also intr. for refl. or pass.
a1766F. Sheridan Mem. Sidn. Biddulph IV. 77 Her expressive features all lit up with Joy. 1787F. Burney Diary 13 July, A ray of genius..instantly lights up his whole countenance. 1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. 269 Her eyes lighted with pleasure. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey v. viii, A smile, rather of pity than derision, lighted up her face. 1854H. Rogers Ess. (1860) II. 20 The style of Locke is..perpetually lighted up with vivacious illustration. 1855A. Manning Old Chelsea Bun-house vii. 110, I never saw a Face light up with Joy as Gatty's did, that Moment. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 694 He lights up and gives us a spirited account. 1888Besant Inner House ii. 34, I see the faces of all light up with satisfaction. 1888Burgon Lives 12 Gd. Men II. xii. 349 All his face [would] become lighted up with the fun of the story.
4. To give light to (a person) so as to enable him to see what he is doing; hence, to show the way to. lit. and fig. Also absol.
c1200Ormin 19089 Soþ lihht..Þat lihhteþ all þatt lihhtedd iss, To gan þe rihhte weȝȝe. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 206 Prayer..lightyth a man to the lowe of god. 1551Recorde Pathw. Knowl. To Rdr., If my light may so light some other, to espie and marke my faultes. 1565Cooper Thesaurus, s.v. Fax, Præferre facem adolescentulo ad libidinem, To be an example or sterer of a yonge man to lecherie..as it were to light him the way. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. viii. 230 Those that labour therein, vse candles to light them. 1605Shakes. Macb. v. v. 22. 1609 T. Cocks Diary (1901) 83 Given the Sonne [inn] boye Pawle for lightinge mee home jd. 1664Butler Hud. ii. iii. 817 Were the Stars only made to light Robbers and Burglarers by night? 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. iii. ii, Methinks the blaze of this Fire should light me to discern something instructive in it. c1700Earl Montagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 350 A Dutch lanthorn of horn upon a great stick, to light before a coach when it is dark. a1766F. Sheridan Mem. Sidn. Biddulph V. 267 A little spark of that virtue which..might have lit me to happiness and honour. 18..Oranges & Lemons in Mrs. Gomme Tradit. Games (1898) II. 27 Here comes a candle to light you to bed. 1858Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. I. 121 Poetical faith enough to light her cheerfully through all these mists of incredulity.
5. To enlighten or illumine spiritually or intellectually. ? Obs. or arch.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 63 Þet he..mid his halie gast us lihte. c1200Ormin 18990 All mannkinn iss lihhtedd Þurrh fulluhht & þurrh Crisstenndom. c1320Cast. Love 793 That is the clere love and bryȝht That heo is alle with i-lyȝht. c1386Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 71 And of thy light my soule in prison lighte. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 133 God..light ȝoure resoun, and make cleer ȝoure vnderstondynge. 1535Coverdale Heb. vi. 4 They which were once lighted & haue taisted of the heauenly gyfte. 1552Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 42 Your hartis salbe lichtit with the licht of grace. 1819Heber Hymn, ‘From Greenland's icy mountains’, We, whose souls are lighted With Wisdom from on high.
6. absol. To dispose the light in a picture.
1889Pall Mall G. 18 Jan. 3/1 Rembrandt lighted falsely for the sake of effect.
▪ IX. light
erroneous spelling of lite, leet n.2
1833Rep. Sel. Committee on Municipal Corporations 304 [At Hull] the mayor and alderman put out two names called lights, on a vacancy for alderman. Ibid. 305 The chamberlains [of Hull]..are chosen by the burgesses out of four lights. |