lighten

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Contents

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

light +‎ -en

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

lighten (third-person singular simple present lightens, present participle lightening, simple past and past participle lightened)

  1. (transitive) To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
  2. (transitive) To make light or lighter in weight.
  3. (transitive) To make less serious or more cheerful.
  4. (transitive) To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
  5. (intransitive) To become light or lighter in weight.
  6. (intransitive) To become less serious or more cheerful.
  7. (intransitive) To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
  8. (intransitive) To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
    • Shakespeare
      This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

to alleviate
to make light in weight
to make less serious
to make brighter or clearer
to become light in weight
to become less serious
to become brighter or clearer
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