Lighten — Defs

01 v. i. To descend; to light.

1.
To descend; to light.
“O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.” — Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].

02 v. i. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash.

imp. & p. p. Lightened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening

1.
To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash.
“This dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion.” — Shak.
2.
To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.

03 v. t. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets.

1.
To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets.[In this sense less common than light.]
“A key of fire ran all along the shore, And lightened all the river with a blaze.” — Dryden.
2.
To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.[In this sense less common than enlighten.]
“Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.” — Sir J. Davies.
3.
To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
“His eye . . . lightens forth Controlling majesty.” — Shak.
4.
To free from trouble and fill with joy.
“They looked unto him, and were lightened.” — Ps. xxxiv. 5.

04 v. t. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten…

1.
To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.
2.
To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.
3.
To cheer; to exhilarate.
“Lightens my humor with his merry jests.” — Shak.