alighten

Meaning

Verb

• To alight, to dismount or get down from.
• To alight; to land, to descend and rest.
• To lighten; to reduce in weight or heaviness.
• To make light; to illuminate or brighten.

Origin

• From Middle English alighten, from a merger of Old English ālīhtan, from prefix ā- (compare Gothic 𐌿𐍃-, German er- originally meaning "out") + līhtan; and Old English ġelīhtan; equivalent to alight + -en.
• From Middle English alighten, from a merger of Old English ālīhtan and Old English ġelīhtan ("to lighten, mitigate, assuage"); equivalent to .
• From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan; equivalent to . Cognate with German erleuchten.