I. ˈlītniŋ, -nēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lightning, lightening, from gerund of lihtenen, lightenen to lighten — more at lighten (illuminate)
1. obsolete : the action of giving light : illumination , enlightenment
a lightning before death — Shakespeare
2. : the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity from one cloud to another or from a cloud to the earth ; also : the discharge itself
3. slang : cheap whiskey of poor quality
4. : a sudden stroke of good fortune ; especially : a nomination or selection for high political office
a multiplicity of candidates, including favorite sons hoping for real lightning to strike — Time
5. often capitalized : one of a class of racing sailboats about 19 feet in length that are sloop-rigged and have a centerboard
II. adjective
: moving with or having the speed and suddenness of lightning
the jargon of the auctioneer as he works with lightning rapidity — American Guide Series: North Carolina
the lightning speed of modern warfare — F.D.Roosevelt
superb fighters, masters of the lightning raid — Seth Agnew
made lightning descents on the native villages — Tom Marvel
III. intransitive verb
( lightninged ; lightninged ; lightning ; lightnings )
: to discharge a flash of lightning
it is lightning more than ever
it lightninged terribly last night