lighten

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   become lighter

   The room lightened up

2. 2
   verb

   to become more cheerful

   After a glass of wine, they lightened up a bit.

3. 3
   verb

   make more cheerful

   the conversation lightened me up a bit

4. 4
   verb

   To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

   to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets

5. 5
   verb

   To flash lightning, to give off lightning.

   Enter the Conjurer; it lightens and thunders […]

6. 6
   verb

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

   […] behold his eye, As bright as is the eagle’s, lightens forth Controlling majesty:

7. 7
   verb

   To illuminate with knowledge.

   O Light which mak’st the Light, which makes the Day, Which setst the Eye without and Mind within, Lighten my spirit with one cleare heavenly ray, Which now to view it selfe doth first begin.

8. 8
   verb

   To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

   Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.

Etymology

From Middle English lightnen, equivalent to light + -en.