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Alight

 - 6 dictionary results

a⋅light

1  [uh-lahyt]
Use Alight in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), a⋅light⋅ed or a⋅lit, a⋅light⋅ing.
1. to dismount from a horse, descend from a vehicle, etc.
2. to settle or stay after descending: The bird alighted on the tree.
3. to encounter or notice something accidentally.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME alighten, OE ālīhtan, equiv. to ā- a- 3 + līhtan to relieve (orig. an animal mount) of weight, light 2 )

a⋅light

2  [uh-lahyt]
–adverb, adjective
1. provided with light; lighted up.
2. on fire; burning.
Origin:
bef. 1000; now taken as a- 1 + light 1 ; orig. ptp. of alight to light up (ME alihten, OE onlīhtan, equiv. to on a- 1 + līhtan to light 1 )
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Alight
a·light 1   (ə-līt')   
intr.v.   a·light·ed or a·lit (ə-lĭt'), a·light·ing, a·lights

  1. To come down and settle, as after flight: a sparrow alighting on a branch.

  2. To get down, as from a vehicle; dismount: The queen alighted from the carriage.

  3. To come by chance: alight on a happy solution.


[Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan : ā-, intensive pref. + līhtan, to relieve of a burden (from līht, light; see light2).]
a·light 2   (ə-līt')   
adj.  

  1. Burning; lighted: The discarded match was still alight.

  2. Illuminated: The sky was alight with millions of stars.


[Middle English, past participle of alighten, to set on fire, from Old English ālīhtan, to illuminate : ā-, intensive pref. + līhtan, to shine (from lēoht, a light; see light1).]
a·light' adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

alight  (v.)
"dismount," O.E. alihtan, from a- "down, aside" (see a- (1)) + lihtan "get off, make light" (see light (v.)).

alight  (adj.)
"on fire," c.1420, apparently from pp. of M.E. alihton (O.E. on-lihtan) "to light up," also "to shine upon."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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