[light.ning] n [ME, fr. gerund of lightenen to lighten] (13c) 1: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity; also: the discharge itself
2: a sudden stroke of fortune
[2]lightning adj (1640): having or moving with or as if with the speed and suddenness of lightning "a ~ assault" [3]lightning vi light.ninged ; lightning (1903): to discharge a flash of lightning