| 释义 |
brightenv. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: bright v., bright adj., -en suffix5. Etymology: Originally < either bright v. or bright adj. + -en suffix5. In later use probably partly re-formed < bright adj. + -en suffix5. Compare bright v.In Northumbrian Old English the prefixed form gebeorhtnia (compare y- prefix) is also attested and is slightly more common. It is unclear whether the attested prefixed past participle forms (all from Northumbrian sources) represent the prefixed or the unprefixed verb. 1. the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [verb (intransitive)] > brighten OE Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens (1974) 188 [Flava auri specie] splendescit : beorhneþ. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 9933 Þat castel brightnes..Oueral þat curt on lenght and brede. 1660 P. Nye 11 As Gold shines and brightens most when in the fire, so doth our Faith. 1709 A. Pope Spring in 728 The Flow'rs begin to spring, the Skies to brighten. 1867 Ld. Tennyson 1 The lights and shadows fly! Yonder it brightens and darkens down on the plain. 1948 6 Jan. 5/5 New Year's Day dawned cloudy..and club officials spent the morning re-assuring one another that the weather was sure to brighten up later in the day. 2018 (Nexis) 22 Aug. (T2 section) 11 Only at its close did the stage lights brighten slightly to reveal the..singer standing among scattered columns. the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [verb (transitive)] > brighten 1567 W. Painter II. f. 24v The Sun, who with his liuely flames at times and places, doth brighten the Starres, and maketh the Moone to shine. 1671 B. Oley in G. Herbert (ed. 2) To Rdr. sig. a5 As Greater Stars help to Brighten up their less-shining neighbours. 1781 J. Rickman 33 About 12 at noon, the fog began to disperse, a clear sun-shine brightened the horizon, and shewed that we were at no great distance from land. 1890 Aug. 157/1 He got up, and put a pillow at her back, spread a shawl over her knees, and brightened up the fire. 2006 C. J. Petersen 112 A ventilating skylight brightens the space and creates the illusion of more headroom in the process. 1582 F. H. in tr. P. Viret Ep. Ded. sig. ¶¶4 Perfect yron, bryghtened by the fyle. 1745 J. Swift x. 71 Polish and brighten the Marble Hearths and Chimeny-pieces with a Clout dipt in Grease. 1906 4 Aug. 6/4 Dark painted wood can be brightened up by rubbing with a rag dipped in either kerosine or oil of turpentine. 1959 173 When patent leather shoes begin to look dull and lose their freshness, a few drops of spirit of turpentine applied with a soft cloth will brighten them up so that they look almost like new. 2012 6 Oct. f1/4 Brighten brass and copper: To clean up tarnish on pots and pans made with brass or copper, use a small amount of ketchup on a soft cloth. 2. the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > majesty, glory, or grandeur > exaltation or glorification > exalt or glorify [verb (transitive)] OE (Northumbrian) xii. 28 Pater clarifica tuum nomen..et clarificaui : faeder do berhtne..ðinne noma..& ic berhtnade. 1578 J. Florio f. 58 Wee learne to amende our lyues, and to brighten our consciences. ?1705 T. D'Urfey Contents sig. A3 Tincture of Parnassus, for clarifying, brightening and strengthening the Wit. 1843 S. Holme 5 As fire kindles fire, so does intellect brighten intellect. 1979 May 12/1 Token reductions by the United States and Russia would prime the pump in Vienna and brighten the prospects for agreement. 2018 (National ed.) (Nexis) 5 Sept. 33 Summer is over, the holidays are done,..and you need something to brighten your day. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [verb (intransitive)] > improve or grow better 1659 D. Pell 567 Every thing brightens, & betters, but the rusty Sailor, Gods mercies & judgments in the Seas do not scour him. 1828 18 When he arrived at Philadelphia, his prospects brightened. 1904 Jan. 13/1 His memory lives and his fame brightens as the years go by, and the little clay-built cottage near the Brig O'Doon, where he was born has become a shrine. 1933 B. Pym (1984) 31 When Michael arrived things brightened up a lot. 1995 3 July 22/5 After a difficult start to the year the market has brightened up. 3. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 3357 Smaragdone..Quat berne as beris it him on, it briȝtens his eȝen. 1585 T. Bilson iv. 713 Brighten the eyes of our mynde with thy singular light that can not bee couered. 1664 H. Coningsby tr. Boethius iv. 124 So like they are unto the Owle, Whose sight Night brightens, Day does foul. 1758 4 One who hath laboured so much and so long, to brighten the Sight, and to strengthen the Intellects of his Countrymen. 1891 J. R. Judd 168 Tea and coffee, not too strong, are not bad occasionally, as they stimulate the nervous, making them more active and brightening the senses. 1994 18 Sept. a7/2 (advt.) AAA Optical & Hearing. Brighten your sight sharpen your sound. 1831 31 Dec. 77 Lo! whilst I look, my vision brightens up apace... How clearly do I see that mountain, with its rocks and rivulets, woods and waterfalls. 1855 R. F. Burton I. viii. 220 Though your mouth glows, and your skin is parched, yet..your lungs are lightened, your sight brightens,..and your spirits become exuberant. 1916 Apr. 30/3 His eyes brightened enough to discover a steamship apparently hove to, almost in the course of the ‘Chester Maid’. 2015 N. Nkengasong i. 1 The atmosphere was cool and unruffled..and I felt my senses brightening up. 4. the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > make cheerful [verb (transitive)] 1607 J. Carpenter 164 A bright Sunne in the eternall happinesse, clarifying the minde with gladsome and wholesome light, brightening the minde with vnspeakeable ioy and eternall gladnesse. 1667 J. Milton ix. 634 Hope elevates, and joy Bright'ns his Crest. View more context for this quotation 1741 S. Richardson (ed. 2) I. 37 I was brighten'd up at once upon these welcome Words. 1854 May 473 A sudden strain of music brightens the landscape at which we gaze. 1954 28 Aug. 2/4 (advt.) Original oil paintings, cheerful sunny type brightens any room. 2004 12 July 5 a/3 Our daughter, Elishia, was devastated when her father left [for Iraq]. Seeing him will really brighten her up. the mind > emotion > pleasure > cheerfulness > be cheerful [verb (intransitive)] > become cheerful or cheer up 1692 T. Taylor tr. G. Daniel ii. 92 Monsieur, you seem something Melancholy, brighten a little, brighten. 1819 Ld. Byron lxxxix. 163 The boy's eyes, which the dull film half glazed, Brighten'd, and for a moment seem'd to roam. 1868 M. Oliphant III. xxxv. 84 That morning he was kinder than ever; and the whole party brightened up under his influence. 1902 A. M. Shaw xxxi. 433 Footsteps woke her. The fire was dim, but the whole room brightened with the belief that it was Roger. 2012 A. Bracken (2013) xv. 243 ‘Come on,’ I said, squeezing her hand. ‘Girl time.’ Her face brightened. 5. 1656 2 Many secret medicaments and close receipts..may either fill and plump their skins, if flat and wrinkled;..or clear and brighten them, if tann'd and freckled. 1851 6 Mar. Though the pleasant breezes..should wanton a little freely over the cheeks of the ladies,..it only serves to brighten the complexion. 1945 23 May 3/6 Follow the Ayer way to beauty... Flatter with beautifying face cream—brightens the skin—prepares it for make-up. 2018 S. L. Tourles v. 145 This treatment, if used repeatedly, will lighten skin discolorations..and will generally brighten a lackluster complexion. 1773 tr. J. P. Marat II. iii. ii. 48 In joy, the eyes acquire new lustre, the complexion brightens, the brows become more arched, [etc.] 1957 30 Sept. 56/2 Irritations were promptly relieved while skin brightened and became silky smooth and soft. 2016 (Nexis) 11 Apr. 46 I dropped over 5st and my complexion brightened, my skin smoothed and my shape changed dramatically. 6. 1667 W. Petty in T. Sprat ii. 303 Some of the Dyers Materials are used to bind and strengthen a Colour, some to brighten it, some to give lustre to the stuff, some to discharge and take off the colour. 1805 W. Scott ii. xxiv. 52 When the dawn of day Began to brighten Cheviot gray. 1834 T. Carlyle iii. vi. 86/1 Brightening London smoke itself into gold vapour. 2010 May 45/1 A cushion in boiled-sweet shades will brighten a sofa. 1761 M. Cooper 208 When She appear'd..The floweret brighten'd, and the landscape glow'd. 1900 8 Sept. 155/3 The red brightens by graduations for which no names exist in the colorist's vocabulary. 1983 J. Ortiz y Pino 9 In the distance, he could see the pale grey sky brighten to a light turquoise. 2018 (Nexis) 22 Aug. Briskly stir-fry the vegetables continuously until their colors brighten. 1833 Oct. 290/2 The poverty of the circumjacent lands..tends very much to brighten and increase the fine flavour in curing, because the atmosphere of a high, dry, poor country is much sweeter and purer than it can possibly be in a rich country. 1957 July 3/2 The delicate, fresh-egg flavor is brightened with ham for a subtle taste surprise. 2018 (National ed.) (Nexis) 7 July (Saturday section) A quick snip of lemon verbena or mint brightens up a gin and tonic easily enough. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  v.OE |
