alighten

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈlaɪtən/ === Etymology 1 === From Middle English alighten, from a merger of Old English ālīhtan (“to alight, dismount”), from prefix ā- (compare Gothic 𐌿𐍃- (us-), German er- originally meaning "out") + līhtan (“to alight”); and Old English ġelīhtan (“to alight, approach, come, come down, dismount”); equivalent to alight +‎ -en. ==== Verb ==== alighten (third-person singular simple present alightens, present participle alightening, simple past and past participle alightened) To alight, to dismount or get down from. To alight; to land, to descend and rest. === Etymology 2 === From Middle English alighten, from a merger of Old English ālīhtan (“to lighten, relieve, alleviate, take off, take away, alight”) and Old English ġelīhtan (“to lighten, mitigate, assuage”); equivalent to a- +‎ lighten. ==== Verb ==== alighten (third-person singular simple present alightens, present participle alightening, simple past and past participle alightened) To lighten; to reduce in weight or heaviness. === Etymology 3 === From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan (“to light up, enlighten”); equivalent to a- +‎ light. Cognate with German erleuchten (“to light up, illuminate”). ==== Verb ==== alighten (third-person singular simple present alightens, present participle alightening, simple past and past participle alightened) To make light; to illuminate or brighten. === Anagrams === atheling