alightadj.adv.
/əˈlʌɪt/, U.S. /əˈlaɪt/ A. adj.
1. On fire, in flames; burning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [adjective]
quickeOE
burningc1000
swealinga1023
tinded1297
alightc1400
flamed1413
alive1571
comburent1599
combustious1622
combustible1632
conflagrant1656
c1400 (?c1280) Old Test. Hist. in F. J. Furnivall Adam Davy's 5 Dreams (1878) 90 (MED) Atte last schal come þe holi gost in fourme of swerd al [i] ȝt [rhyme miȝt].
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) v. l. 200 A brasen vessel streyte with brinkes hie, A light at nyght make stondyng in the grounde.
1582 T. Watson Ἑκατομπαθία: Passionate Cent. Loue xlviii. sig. F4v The Flye, when candles are alight, Still playes about the flame vntill he burne.
1612 For Colony Virginea Britannia 85 He shall shoulder his peice, both ends of his match being alight, and his peice charged, and prined [sic], and bullets in his mouth.
1712 Philos. Trans. 1710–12 (Royal Soc.) 27 369 They were all extinguish'd in half a quarter of an Hours time, except some few which remained alight above half an Hour.
1743 Visct. Bolingbroke Remarks Hist. Eng. Pref. p. xii A Beacon to..be kept continually alight.
1805 Sporting Mag. Sept. 306/2 A candle when alight has the power to distribute its own particles into space for three miles round.
1863 G. A. Sala Strange Adventures Capt. Dangerous III. v. 156 She was alight, and ran about the scene, screaming piteously.
1943 J. H. Fullarton Troop Target xxiv. 175 Along comes a Jerry tank. Kiwi goes in with stick bombs. Jerry hops out with his shirt-tail alight. Kiwi shoots him.
1954 Househ. Guide & Almanac (News of World) 167/1 Never fill a lamp or stove with paraffin while it is still alight.
2010 S. Fry Fry Chrons. 40 The trick is to keep the pipe alight with gentle, infrequent tuts and puffs on the stem.
2. Glowing with light or colour; brilliant, gleaming, glittering. Frequently with with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > illumination > [adjective] > illuminated or lit up
lightc1300
lightedc1450
illuminate?a1475
circumfulseda1513
illustrate1526
in light1534
lighted1596
illightened1609
enlightened1640
unblown1647
luminated1652
illuminated1664
lit1783
alight1817
lit-up1835
littena1849
light-struck1923
1817 J. Shackleton Poems of Ossian attempted in Eng. Verse II. 14 Nor the dark, shady wood be again all alight With the beams of thy steel.
1842 E. B. Barrett tr. P. Silentiarius in Some Acct. Greek Christian Poets in Athenæum 12 Mar. 230/2 Some marbles are like new dropt snow, and some Alight with blackness!
1881 J. H. Shorthouse John Inglesant (new ed.) II. i. 6 All alight with the morning sun.
1928 A. B. Greene Lambs in March 219 Another flash on my left, and the Sierras were alight.
1973 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 6 May 2/1 Valley forests were alight with..queen cup [etc.].
1996 Independent 1 Apr. ii. 3/3 Smooth, old stone alight with sunshine.
3. figurative. Highly emotional or active; glowing with emotion. Frequently with with.
ΚΠ
1846 C. Dickens Pictures from Italy 24 Such a fierce, little, rapid, sparkling, energetic, she-devil I never beheld. She was alight and flaming, all the time.
1876 A. D. Whitney Sights & Insights iii. 18 The girls, of course, were all alight about it.
1935 E. Farjeon Nursery in Nineties v. 414 Mama's face was alight with happiness.
1962 D. Francis Dead Cert vii. 79 His eyes were alight with that fantastic, top-of-the-world elation.
2008 New Yorker 15 Sept. 89/1 Florence was alight with pride and the heady prospect of favors from the overflowing papal coffers.
B. adv.
On fire; in or into flames. Esp. in to set alight. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [adverb] > burning or on fire
afirec1275
alight1770
1770 G. S. Carey Analects in Verse & Prose I. 168 'Tis you must quench the burning fire, You set it first alight.
1834 Standard 16 Oct. 1/2 Her clothes caught alight, and she was instantly enveloped in flames.
1860 N. Hawthorne Marble Faun I. xx. 227 To set alight the devotion of the worshippers.
1915 Jrnl. 48th National Encampment Grand Army of Republic 264 You kindled alight again the fires of liberty that had almost become extinguished.
1966 Observer 13 Feb. 40/4 A bar which..is sometimes soaked in spirit and set alight.
2001 C. Coker Humane Warfare iii. 65 The oil wells which were set alight in the last week of the war.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
alightv.1
/əˈlʌɪt/, U.S. /əˈlaɪt/α. Old English–Middle English alihte, Old English–Middle English alyhte, early Middle English aliȝste, Middle English aliȝhte, Middle English aliȝt, Middle English aliȝte, Middle English aliȝth, Middle English aliȝtte, Middle English aliht, Middle English allyghte, Middle English alyȝt, Middle English alyȝte, Middle English alyte, Middle English–1500s alighte, Middle English–1500s alyght, Middle English–1500s alyghte, Middle English–1600s alight, 1800s– alit; also Scottish pre-1700 alicht.
β. late Middle English–1500s alyghted, 1500s alyghtedde, 1500s alyghtyde, 1500s alyttyd, 1500s– alighted, 1700s allighted; also Scottish pre-1700 alleichtit, pre-1700 allichted, pre-1700 1800s alichtit.
3. Past participle.α. Old English aliht, Middle English aliȝt, Middle English aliȝte, Middle English aliȝth, Middle English alyȝt, Middle English–1500s alyght, Middle English–1600s alight, 1500s alighte, 1800s– alit; N.E.D. (1884) also records a form early Middle English aliht.
β. late Middle English aliȝted, late Middle English–1500s alyghted, late Middle English– alighted.
1. transitive. To make light, or less heavy; to lighten, alleviate (a burden); to relieve (a person) of a burden. Also figurative. Obsolete.With quot. 1678 cf. quot. a1661 at alighten v.2 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > make less violent or severe [verb (transitive)] > mitigate or alleviate
lithec897
lighteOE
lissea1000
stillc1000
alightOE
alithe?a1200
softc1225
swagec1330
abate?c1335
easea1374
accoya1375
allegea1375
stintc1374
slakea1387
assuage1393
planea1400
slecka1400
plasterc1400
soften?c1415
lighten?a1425
mitigate?a1425
relievec1425
asoftc1430
alleviate?a1475
allevya1500
sletcha1500
alleve1544
allevate1570
salve?1577
sweetena1586
smooth1589
disembitter1622
deleniate1623
slaken1629
tranquillitate1657
soothe1711
the mind > emotion > pleasure > state of being consoled or relieved > be relieved of [verb (transitive)] > console or relieve > relieve (suffering)
lissea1000
alightOE
allayc1225
softc1225
comfort1297
laya1300
eathea1325
allegea1375
appeasec1374
laska1375
slakea1387
releasea1393
balma1400
to bete one of one's balea1400
to cool a person's caresc1400
delivera1413
leggea1425
mitigate?a1425
repress?a1425
alleviate?a1475
allevya1500
alleve1544
leviate1545
lenify1567
allevate1570
ungrieve1589
straight1604
mulcify1653
balsama1666
solace1667
meliorate1796
the mind > emotion > pleasure > state of being consoled or relieved > be relieved of [verb (transitive)] > console or relieve > relieve of suffering
lighteOE
unbindc950
alightOE
slakea1300
deliverc1325
covera1375
lissec1374
relievea1382
allegea1425
refreshc1430
alighten1530
untaste1609
mitigate1644
disaffright1676
soothe1746
shrive1899
OE St. Eustace (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1900) II. 190 He for wel manega þe unrihtlice fram yflum demum genyþrode wæron alyhte.
OE Ælfric Homily (Hatton 115) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 728 Þa ealdan cyningas..hogodon hu hi mihton heora byrðena alihtan, for þan ðe an man ne mæg..ætsomne ealle þing aberan.
?a1200 (?OE) Peri Didaxeon (1896) 43 Þu hym scealt lætan blod..þæt þeo blodlæse þane mann alihte [L. relevet].
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 4520 I mihte Som of mi grete peine allyhte.
?a1425 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Claud.) (1850) Isa. ix. 1 The lond of Zabulon..was aliȝted, ether releessid.
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 27 (MED) This reste..laboures allightith.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 550 For this..cause of aliȝting the poor men.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) xlvii. 69 She wende to alyght her euylle and her synne.
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World vi. xxxviii. 639/2 On the fifth day Mr. Hedley..and another dyed, whereby their Boat was somewhat alighted.
II. To descend, fall, or land.
2. † c. intransitive. To arrive. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. With from, off, †of. To get down from a horse, to dismount; to descend or get down from (or out of) any means of transport.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > dismount
lighteOE
alightOE
falla1300
avoid1485
demountc1540
elight1542
descend1548
avale1590
dismount1594
alighten1600
unlight1623
unhorse1633
unmount1655
to get off1688
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > dismount from > by leaping
alight1477
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > riding in a vehicle > ride in a vehicle [verb (intransitive)] > alight from a vehicle
dismount1594
avale1596
land1693
alight1704
to step out1753
unlight1796
to hop in (also out)1955
deboard1960
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxvii. 408 Ic geseah þurh Godes gast, þa se þegen alihte of his cræte & eode togeanes þe.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 Se kyng alihte dune of his hors & alehte hine [sc. the bishop] betwux his earmes.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1978) 13145 Adun hii gonne a-lihte of hire gode stedes.
c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 1895 Of his palefrai he aliȝte adoun.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2227 (MED) I doun fro my Charr alihte.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxv. l. 151 He ne dorste..Owt of his Sadil Alyhte.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 13 Peleus and Iason were alighted from their hors.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 420/2 I alight downe of a horse.
1578 T. Nicholas tr. F. Lopez de Gómara Pleasant Hist. Conquest W. India 321 And he alyghting from his horse.
1608 T. Dekker Lanthorne & Candle-light vii. sig. F3v He that neuer alights off a rich Farmer or countrie Gentleman, till he haue drawne money from him.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia (1927) 85 The Ambassador of the Lesqui did not alight from his Horse.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiv. 404 His Majesty alighted out of his Coach.
1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. xxix. 103 Making as if he would have alighted from off his horse,..he was poising himself on the mounting side.
1857 C. Dickens Let. 12 Sept. (1995) VIII. 444 Station-masters assist him to alight from carriages.
1863 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders (ed. 3) 36 The emperor has just alighted from his charger.
1937 New Yorker 13 Nov. 28/2 The car from which he alighted out of the midnight train was the farthest from the station.
1962 Coast to Coast 1961–2 72 The cameras zoomed to a middle-aged man alighting from an inter-urban Hovercraft.
1997 ‘Q’ Deadmeat 274 A couple were alighting from a black cab.
b. intransitive. Without construction. To get down from a horse or other means of transport; (hence) to finish one's ride, to stop.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 160 Hi..ridon ofer twelf mila to Rodan þæra ea, and þær gelihton sona, for ðam langsumum færelde.]
c1175 ( Ælfric Lives of Saints (Cambr. Ii.1.33) (Dict. Old Eng. transcript) (1900) II. 150 Hwæt ðe casere ða caflice alyhte [OE Julius lihte] þancigende Gode þære wissunge.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13285 Heo letten alle þa horsmen i þan wude alihten [c1300 Otho a-lihte].
c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) l. 21 At þe selue huse hi buþ aliȝt Þat Blauncheflur was þat oþer niȝt.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3923 He a-liȝt, & wiȝtli to william his wepun vp to-ȝelde.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 981 Abouten vndren gan this Erl alighte.
1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) ccxliiij. sig. t7v They come ridyng thurgh the cite of london vn to seint Poules and there they alight.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. cxl/2 And assoone as he sawe the princes baner, he alyghted & wente thyder.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xii. sig. M2v Fast before the king he did alight.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iv. 101 That if occasion be offered, euery mounted souldier may alight.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. ix. 85 Madame, there is a-lighted at your gate A young Venetian. View more context for this quotation
1678 Young Man's Calling 364 She was fain to alite under a hedge, and there to trim her self as well as she could.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxvii. 351 We alighted, and walked a little Way.
1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. i. 18 Coming to a small cottage, he stopped a little, to alight and dress the wound.
1824 T. F. Dibdin Libr. Compan. 224 He happens to alight at an inn.
1872 H. I. Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lake District (1879) 200 On alighting at the Threlkeld station cross the line.
1910 A. G. Morice Hist. Catholic Church Western Canada I. xviii. 295 He rode on all day; but when he alighted, he could not stand up: both his feet were frozen.
1972 J. Potter Going West 17 Transit passengers were encouraged to alight for the stopover.
2004 D. Lodge Author, Author ii. vi. 157 One boarded a train at Victoria or Waterloo station and two or three days later alighted in some warm historic southern city.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > arrival > arrive [verb (intransitive)]
to come toOE
comeOE
yworthOE
lend11..
lightc1225
overtakec1225
redea1275
wina1300
'rivec1300
repaira1325
applyc1384
to come ina1399
arrivec1400
attainc1400
alightc1405
to come to handc1450
unto-comec1450
apport1578
to get through1589
reach1591
to be along1597
land1679
engage1686
to get in1863
to breeze in1930
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > reaching a point or place > reach a point or place [verb (intransitive)] > arrive
comeOE
to come to townOE
yworthOE
lend11..
lightc1225
to come anovenonc1275
wina1300
'rivec1300
repaira1325
applyc1384
to come ina1399
rede?a1400
arrivec1400
attainc1400
alightc1405
to come to handc1450
unto-comec1450
apport1578
to be along1597
to drop in1609
to come ona1635
to walk in1656
land1679
engage1686
to come along1734
to get in1863
to turn up1870
to fall in1900
to lob1916
to roll up1920
to breeze in1930
to rock up1975
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) ii. x. 138 Sona þæs þe he gelyhte to þam hearge [eOE Tanner nealehte to þæm herige].]
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 722 Whan we weere in that hostelrye alyght.
a1475 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Harl.) (1927) l. 689 (MED) Alysaunder Paryse, That is in our lond a-lyght.
1639 J. Shirley Maides Revenge ii. sig. C3 A pretty hansome stripling new alight.
3. intransitive. To go or come down; to descend. Also with from, down, out of. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)]
styc825
astyc975
alightOE
to fall adownOE
hieldc1275
downcomea1300
sink?a1300
avalec1374
to go downa1375
to come downc1380
dipc1390
descenda1393
clinea1400
declinea1400
downc1400
inclinec1400
vailc1400
fallc1440
devall1477
condescendc1485
to get down1567
lower1575
dismount1579
to fall down1632
down?1701
demount1837
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxviii. 510 Zacheus þa swyftlice of þam treowe alihte & hine blissiende underfeng.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 79 Þes Mon..a lihte from ierusalem in to ierico.
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 111 God almihti..alihte adun to helle.
a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 1484 Ȝif þou art godes sone, adoun of þe rode aliȝt [L. descende].
c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) l. 656 He..Þat from heuene [to erþe] alihte [MS dude alihte].
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 1141 (MED) Ryght as sche made me to clymbe on highte..so sche may me make alighte.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxxxv. 115 As soone as she was alyght out of her child bedde.
1835 F. W. N. Bayley Scenes & Stories II. 231 My friend joined me after I had alighted from the wall.
1857 Leisure Hour 6 Aug. 511/2 To alight out of incomprehensible cloud-land..into the wholesome every-day world of human hearts and human sympathies.
1917 A. Cahan Rise of David Levinsky (1993) x. iv. 325 I could not..shake down my trousers upon alighting from a boot-black's chair, without being conscious of the difference between my present life and my life in Antomir.
4. † a. intransitive. With prepositional phrase. Of Christ, the Holy Ghost, etc.: to descend so as to be with or within a person. Obsolete.In later use merged with sense 4b.
ΚΠ
OE Christ & Satan 429 Segdest us to soðe þætte seolfa god wolde helwarum ham gelihtan.]
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 118 (MED) Godes sune aliȝte wolde on eorþe al for ure sake.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8911 Þis was endleue hondred ȝer & in þe niþe ȝer riȝt After þat vr louerd was in is moder aliȝt.
a1400 Prose Life Christ (Pepys) (1922) 3 (MED) Þe Holy Gost schal aliȝth wiþinne þe, and God hym self schal þe al biclosen.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xii. l. 208 Goddis sone Of hevene, That Into þe Maide Alyhte.
c1450 in R. L. Greene Early Eng. Carols (1977) 76 (MED) The Holy Gost ouer hym alyght; The Faders vois was herd on hyght, ‘This ys my Son.’
a1500 (?a1325) Otuel & Roland (1935) l. 570 (MED) The holy gost..a-lyȝt apon that sarisin there thoruȝ goddys holy myȝt.
b. intransitive. To descend and settle; (of something in flight) to land. Frequently with on, upon. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > descend and settle
light?c1225
falla1300
alightc1330
settlec1380
lightenc1460
reside1616
to sit down1897
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [verb (intransitive)] > land
land1784
alight1786
to sit down1926
to put down1933
to touch down1933
to hit the deck1943
c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 390 Opon sir Gij, þat gentil kniȝt, Y-wis, mi loue is alle aliȝt.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 182 (MED) As the bridd which wole alihte, And seth the mete and noght the net.
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ii. l. 334 (MED) Good eure & grace on hym alihte.
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 14246 (MED) Thys wynd kan maken hem [sc. birds] avale, Talyhte lowe doun in the vale.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C4v The heauie hap, which on them is alight.
c1610–15 Life Holie Hilda in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 57 A greate number of birds alighting in her fields of corne, and deuouring it shrewdlie.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 395 Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree Down he alights among the sportful Herd. View more context for this quotation
1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad VI. xxiii. 1039 The wounded bird..With flagging wings alighted on the mast.
1786 J. Jeffries Narr. Two Aerial Voy. 16 After alighting for a moment..M. Blanchard threw out the remaining part of our sand ballast.
1819 Ld. Byron Mazeppa xviii. 776 I saw his wing through twilight flit, And once so near me he alit.
1835 E. A. Poe Loss of Breath in Southern Lit. Messenger Sept. 737/1 I alit upon my feet.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §18. 124 A grey cloud alighted on the shoulder of the Lyskamm.
1910 Life & Health July 405/1 The snow alights alike on the hovel and the mansion.
1958 Times 17 Oct. 3/4 To see and feel the aircraft obeying the dictates of unseen devices..as we were about to alight along the centre-line of the runway.
2006 Wanderlust Mar. 126/2 Ellie..allowed a beautiful zebra-striped butterfly to alight on her hand.
5. intransitive. Esp. of a blow or projectile: to land violently, to fall. Frequently with on, upon. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge missile [verb (intransitive)] > strike (of missile)
alightc1300
strike1589
c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 136 No wonder theȝ hit smyte harde ther hit doth aliȝte.
c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 475 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 15 (MED) Þe stones þat þare weren a-boue, a-doun a-non huy a-liȝten.
1597 R. Johnson 2nd Pt. Famous Hist. Seauen Champions xii. sig. U He returned Rosana such a terrible blow, that if it had chanced to alight vpon her, it would haue clouen her head in peeces.
1601 tr. M. Martínez 9th Pt. Mirrour of Knight-hood sig. P2v Before yt his sword alighted on her, he reacht him a blow on one side of the helmet with his axe.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 251 Storms of Stones..Pour down, and on our batter'd Helms alight.
1758 ‘Mrs. Richwould’ South Sea Fortune II. xiii. 193 I perceived the stranger's but end of his whip, to alight upon my servant's head with such violence, that it fetched him down from his horse.
1795 A. B. Cristall Poet. Sketches 160 While distant thunders 'mid the mountains roar, And pelting drops fast o'er the rocks alight.
1824 J. H. Wiffen tr. T. Tasso Jerusalem Delivered xi. xxxv A huge round rock..upon his crown Alit, and rudely beat the' heroic soldier down.
1897 R. G. Allanson-Winn Boxing iv. 92 Heenan's blow alighted on Tom's oration-trap, and drew more of the ruby.
1916 G. B. Hotchkiss et al. Business Eng. V. iii. 36 The same blow alighting on a blunt spike would force the spike farther into the block.
6. intransitive. With on, upon. To chance or light upon; to come across.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [verb (intransitive)]
fallc1175
hapa1393
luckc1438
happenc1450
chance1536
to chop upon1555
hazard1575
alight1591
chop1652
lucken1674
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)]
to feel togethera1500
occur1533
alight1591
bemeet1656
encounter1822
1591 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso xxxii. lxxvii. 263 Whose sonne.., by good or euill chaunce, Vpon a louely Ladie did alight.
1684 N. Crouch Delights for Ingenious ii. 7 Many hazards, I alighted on.
1754 Sel. Pieces on Commerce, Nat. Philos., Morality, Antiq., Hist. xxxi. 368 But some minutes after, happening to alight upon this verse of Psalm lvi. Blessed is he that doth righteousness at all times; he recalled his pardon.
1793 Lady's Mag. May 242/1 As Apollo was wandering one day over the top of this mountain, he chanced to alight upon this heavenly maid.
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) IV. 549 By good fortune..I alighted on a collection of MSS. in the State Paper Office.
1876 National Teachers' Monthly May 224/2 One can hardly open the book without alighting upon a useful fact or a good point.
1920 R. D. Paine Corsair in War Zone viii. 183 I..happened to look around at the advertisements when I alighted on the builder's name.
1961 ‘S. Gillespie’ Neighbour vi. 93 Her flat was pretty much what he had expected; the apartment of a rich woman of taste, and his eye immediately alighted on a Degas.
1984 Financial Times i. 19/4 I believe you may already have alighted upon the reason for some of the scepticism shown towards business graduates mentioned in ‘Business Schools under Siege’.
2003 Independent 1 Aug. (Review section) 2/3 A great amount of soul-searching goes on, until they alight on a solution.
7. intransitive. With on, upon. To mount a horse. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > mount > by leaping
leapc900
alightc1380
starta1470
volt1753
vault1815
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2938 And wan Ro[land] was on his [stede] alyȝt to is felawes þanne a sede.
1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xxxiii. 162 I alyght anone vpon my gentyll stede.
1569 E. Fenton tr. P. Boaistuau Certaine Secrete Wonders Nature f. 6v The sayd Sapor..vsed hym as a stiroppe to alighte vpon hys horsse.
8. intransitive. To spring forth. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout forth or spring up
growc725
springOE
upspringc1000
sprouta1200
springa1225
risea1382
burgeon1382
burgea1387
to run upa1393
lance1393
bursta1400
launch1401
reke?1440
alighta1450
shoot1483
to come up?1523
start1587
to grow up1611
to come away1669
to break forth1675
upshoot1841
outgrow1861
sprinta1878
break1882
sprount1890
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xliii. l. 248 (MED) From that there Cam A Roser ful stronge..As on tre Owt Of Anothir scholde Alyht.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
alightv.2
/əˈlʌɪt/, U.S. /əˈlaɪt/α. Old English–Middle English alihte, Old English–Middle English alyhte, Middle English aliȝt, Middle English aliȝte, Middle English alyȝthe, Middle English alyȝtte, 1700s alight.
β. Middle English alyghtyd, 1500s–1700s 1900s– alighted.
3. Past participle.α. Old English aliht, Old English–Middle English alyht, Middle English aliȝht, Middle English aliȝt, Middle English aliȝthe, Middle English alyȝt; N.E.D. (1884) also records a form Middle English–1500s alight.
β. Middle English alyghtyd, Middle English alyȝted, Middle English–1500s alyghted, 1500s– alighted.
Now rare.
1. transitive. To shed light on; to illuminate, enlighten (literal and figurative).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > illumination > illuminate [verb (transitive)]
onlighteOE
enlightOE
alemeOE
alightOE
lightOE
belighta1200
lightena1382
clear1382
alightenc1384
lumine1387
clarify1398
shine1398
shed1412
beamc1430
enlymec1440
illumine1447
enlumine1481
illustre1490
enclear1509
elumine1532
illuminate1535
unshadow1550
illightena1555
allumine1570
eluminate1580
unnight1594
enlighten1595
to strike up1598
illume1604
luminate1623
illustrate1625
unbenight1629
emblaze1637
burn1712
alluminate1726
lamp1808
enkindle1870
society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] > inform (a person)
to teach a person a thingc888
meanOE
wiseOE
sayOE
wittera1225
tellc1225
do to witc1275
let witc1275
let seec1330
inform1384
form1399
lerea1400
to wit (a person) to saya1400
learn1425
advertise1431
givec1449
insense?c1450
instruct1489
ascertain1490
let1490
alighta1500
advert1511
signify1523
reform1535
advise1562
partake1565
resolve1568
to do to ware1594
to let into one's knowledge1596
intellect1599
possess1600
acquainta1616
alighten1615
recommenda1616
intelligence1637
apprise1694
appraise1706
introduce1741
avail1785
prime1791
document1807
to put up1811
to put a person au fait of1828
post1847
to keep (someone) straight1862
monish1866
to put next to1896
to put (one) wise (to)1896
voice1898
in the picture1900
to give (someone) a line on1903
to wise up1905
drum1908
hip1932
to fill (someone) in on1945
clue1948
background1961
to mark a person's card1961
to loop in1994
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) i. 15 Hi scinon on ðære heofenan fæstnysse & alihton [L. illuminent] ða eorðan.
OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) ii. iii. 104 Forþon ys dæg gecweden forþon þæt lyft byð aliht þurh þære sunnan leoman.
OE Benedictine Office (Junius) (1957) 82 We sculon God..biddan þæt he..mid soðre sunnon lihtincge ure heortan alihte, þæt is þæt he..ure ingeþanc swa alihte þæt us deofol of rihtan wege..belædan ne mæge.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 115 (MED) Þe sunne..þat is ure helende self þe alle brihtnesse lihteð..alihte to dai ure þonc of rihte bileue.
a1250 Ureisun ure Louerde (Lamb.) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 185 Þu þet..al þet leome hauest, aliht mi þester heorte.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 109 Þet þe holy gost ous wille alyȝte þe herte.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 1670 (MED) Forto wissen hem be nyhte, A firy Piler hem alyhte.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 865 All they were alyghted of the grace of the Holy Goste.
a1500 in J. Evans & M. S. Serjeantson Eng. Mediaeval Lapidaries (1933) 42 (MED) [The ruby] be-tokenes Ihesu criste yt gretly has alyghtyd vs in dirknes.
1650 J. Reynolds Flower of Fidelitie i. 21 Radiant Tytan flying the Zenith of our Horizon to alight the obscure Antipodes.
1999 D. Tobin Passage to Center 301 Such repose alights the face of The Tollund Man and Gunnar.
2. transitive. To set light to; to light, ignite. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > kindle or set alight
annealeOE
ontendeOE
atend1006
alightOE
kindlec1175
tindc1175
lightc1225
lightenc1384
quickc1390
firea1393
to set (a) fire in, on, upon, of, now only toc1400
quickenc1425
accenda1475
enlumine1477
to light upa1500
to shoot (something) on firec1540
to give fire1562
incend1598
entine1612
betine1659
emblaze1743
to touch off1759
ignite1823
OE Tiberius Psalter xvii. 29 Tu illuminas lucernam meam : þu alyhtest [eOE Vespasian Psalter inlihtes, eOE Royal Psalter onlyhtest] leohtfæt min.
c1330 Lai le Freine in Smith Coll. Stud. Mod. Langs. (1929) 10 iii. 7 Anon fer sche aliȝt & warmed it wele apliȝt.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 66 Huanne me alyȝt þet uer.
c1400 Bk. to Mother (Bodl.) 120 (MED) Wolde God þat alle suche oules wiþ þer heie hornus..weren aliȝt, fuir-itent wiþ þe fuir þat Crist com to tende.
1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle xlv. sig. k.iijv And therfore the stretes were hanged, and the fyres alyghted, and the belles rongen on all sydes.
1590 Eng. Rom. Life in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 183 When the schollers come they alight their lamps.
1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 iii. iii. 133 Hauing..alighted his lampe.
1688 P. Rycaut tr. G. de la Vega Royal Comm. Peru (new ed.) vi. xxii. 222 With this fire alighted from the Sun, they burnt their Sacrifices.
1773 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 164/1 He got up, alighted his candle, and sat down to study.
1860 A. Bowman Esperanza xxvi. 311 A fire was alighted immediately.
1904 H. P. Brewster Saints & Festivals Christian Church 162 All the fires in Rome were alighted anew from this holy fire.
2009 S. Akhter Faith & Philos. Islam vi. 89 The Holy Quran is an extraordinary pearl... Every fruit of good luck is found in it and every torch is alighted from it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.adv.c1400
v.1OEv.2OE