Alight

Pronunciation

• enPR: É™-lÄ«t', IPA: /əˈlaɪt/
• Rhymes: -aɪt

From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan ("to lighten, relieve, alleviate, take off, take away, alight") and Old English ġelīhtan ("to lighten, mitigate, assuage"), equivalent to - + light("not heavy").

Full definition of alight

Verb

1. (transitive) To make light or less heavy; lighten; alleviate.

From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan ("to alight, dismount"), from prefix ā- (compare with Gothic us-, German er-, originally meaning "out") + līhtan ("to alight"), and Old English ġelīhtan ("to alight, approach, come, come down, dismount"), equivalent to - + light("to dismount").

Verb

1. (intransitive, with from) To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount.Passengers are alighting from the carriage
2. (intransitive, with on) To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop.A flying bird alights on a treeSnow alights on a roof.
3. (intransitive) To come or chance (upon).

From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan ("to light up, enlighten"), equivalent to - + light. Cognate with German erleuchten ("to light up, illuminate").

Verb

1. (transitive) To light; light up; illuminate.
2. (transitive) To set light to; light.

From Middle English alight, from Old English *ālīhted, past participle of ālīhtan ("to alight"). See above.

Alternative forms

• alighted

Adjective

1. Lit, on fire, switched on.The sticks were damp and wouldn't catch alight.
2. (figuratively) Lit; on fire, burning.Her face was alight with happiness.

Usage notes

Used only as a predicative.