belight C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /bɪˈlaɪt/ UK /bɪˈlaɪt/ See IPA manual Minimal pairs Sounds like bewrite /l/ vs /ɹ/ Meanings 1 verb to shine light upon; to illuminate (archaic) A single candle belighted the dim chapel. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to shine light upon; to... illuminateilluminelightbrightenirradiate ↔ Opposites darken Word family Related forms lightalightenlighten Etymology AI details From the prefix be- ('about, over') + light, from Old English be- + lēoht ('light'). be- Old English lēoht Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # belight **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /bɪˈlaɪt/ **IPA (UK):** /bɪˈlaɪt/ ## Meanings 1. to shine light upon; to illuminate (archaic) ## Examples - A single candle belighted the dim chapel. ## Synonyms - illuminate - illumine - light - brighten - irradiate ## Antonyms - darken ## Related Forms - light - alight - enlighten ## Roots and Affixes - Root: be- - Root: lēoht ## Etymology From the prefix be- ('about, over') + light, from Old English be- + lēoht ('light'). ## AI Etymology Belight is a verb meaning "to shine light upon; to illuminate (archaic)". Historically, it is from the prefix be- ('about, over') + light, from Old English be- + lēoht ('light'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: belight is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English be- with Old English lēoht. Close English family members include light, alight, and enlighten. This keeps the modern verb sense tied to the older forms and language sequence behind it. ## Topics - Actions & Processes - Register & Style markdown