I. ˈlīt ə n verb
( lightened ; lightened ; lightening -t( ə )niŋ ; lightens )
Etymology: Middle English lihtenen, lightenen, from liht, light, adjective, light, bright — more at light (bright)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to throw light on : make light or clear : illuminate
a moon riding high lightened their path to the beach — Ernest Beaglehole
b. : to make brighter : lessen the darkness of
lighten the picture for consumption abroad — U.T.Holmes
the good news lightened his gloom
2. archaic : to illuminate intellectually or spiritually : enlighten
have power on this dark land to lighten it — Alfred Tennyson
3. : to make lighter (as a shade or tint)
lightened the blue paint before applying it to the wall
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to shine brightly : glow with light
her lamp lightens in the tower — Sir Walter Scott
b. : to grow lighter : brighten
her face would lighten directly you entered the room — Osbert Sitwell
2. : to give out flashes of lightning
this dreadful night that thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars — Shakespeare
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English lihtenen, lightenen, from liht, light, adjective, light (not heavy) — more at light (not heavy)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to relieve of a burden in whole or in part
lightens the ship
the good news lightened his mind
b. : to reduce in weight or quantity : lessen
every student educated at private expense lightens the burden on the state — T.L.Hungate
decide to lighten their holdings of rayon goods — S.B.Hunt
2. : to make happier : cheer , gladden
the time since I wrote last has been lightened by two jolly dinners — H.J.Laski
3. : to make less wearisome : alleviate
no companionship to lighten his work — Robertson Davies
afraid of intruding upon a sorrow that I could not lighten — Oscar Wilde
intransitive verb
1. : to become light or less heavy : become less burdensome
some correspondents believe censorship has lightened somewhat — New York Times
as the war debt lightened, economic and commercial development was rapid — American Guide Series: Louisiana
2. : to become more cheerful
his mood lightened and brightened as he figured things out — O.E.Rölvaag
Synonyms: see relieve