LIGHTEN
Light"en, v. i. Etym: [See Light to alight.]
Defn: To descend; to light.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us. Book of Common Prayer [Eng.
Ed.]
LIGHTEN
Light"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lightened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening.]
Etym: [OE. lightenen. See Light to kindle, illuminate.]
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.
LIGHTEN
Light"en, v. t. Etym: [See Light to illuminate.]
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, were lightened. Ps. xxxiv. 5.