Middle English Dictionary Entry
alighten v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | alighten v.(2) Ppl. alight(ed. |
| Etymology | OE ālȳhtan, ālīhtan |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. onlighten v.(1).
1.
(a) To light (coals, a torch), set on fire; kindle (a fire, a flame), light (a light); (b) start to burn; grow bright, shine; (c) ppl. brilliant (light); flaming (sword).
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)205 : Anon fer sche aliȝt.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)17.10 : Coles ben þer-of alyȝted [vr. aneled; L succensi sunt].
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)126 : Florippe het a damesel..gon & fette A gret torche & hym aliȝte sone wiþ-oute lette.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1670 : God..forto wissen hem be nyhte, A firy Piler hem alyhte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4708 : Upon thalter..the fyres were alyht.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3769 : This host..sih hou that the hell alyhte.
- c1400 Seint Ieremie telleþ (LdMisc 622)17 : Þe xiiij [day] fire [schal] aliȝt And brenne al þe middelerd.
c
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)476 : Þo cam þare a-boute þis holie man so muche liȝht a-liȝthe, Þat no man ne miȝhte for cler leome habbe of him no siȝhte.
- c1400(?c1280) SLeg.OTHist.(LdMisc 622)295 : Atte last schal come þe holi gost in fourme of swerd al[i]ȝt [rime: miȝt].
2.
(a) To arouse or kindle (lust, anger); (b) to rouse or stir (to action).
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)66 : Huanne me alyȝt þet uer [strife], lhapþ þet smech efter þe layt.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)205 : Metes and..wyn aliȝteþ and norisseþ lecherie ase oyle oþer grese aliȝteþ and st[r]engþeþ þet uer.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)77.43 : He ne aliȝt [L accendit] nouȝt al his ire.
b
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)111/23 : Þo passions helpen forþ..and aliȝten moral vertues into her werkis.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)127/24 : God..thyn engyne allyght to the Service..of god.
3.
(a) Of the Deity: to shed spiritual light; illuminate (the world); (b) to fill (the heart, mind) with spiritual light, the true faith, etc.; enlighten (sb.) spiritually.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)81/58 : Þat swe[t]e semblant Þat heuene and erþe a-lyȝtte.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)75.4 : Þou art aliȝtand [L illuminans] wonderfullich of mounteines euer lastand.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)115 : Þe sunne..þat is ure helende self þe alle brihtnesse lihteð..alihte to dai ure þonc of rihte bileue.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Lamb 487)185 : Þu þet ȝeuest hire [the sun] liht..aliht mi þester heorte.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)81 : Þe zoþe wysdom þet alyȝt þe herte of man, ase deþ þe zonne þe wordle.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)105 : God þe zone him alyȝt his onde[r]stondinge.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)121 : Þe holy gost, þet aliȝt in heuene and ine erþe alle þo þet byeþ in grace.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)229 : Hi hise aliȝteþ [Vices & V.(2): þei schynen] wyþoute mid stones and mid broches of gold.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)121/11 : Þe ȝifte of vnderstondynge aliȝteþ hem.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)865/21 : All they were alyghted of the grace of the Holy Goste.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)42 : [The ruby] be-tokenes Ihesu criste yt gretly has alyghtyd vs in dirknes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE 29 (Pep 2498)p.32 : By þe liȝttynge þat þe spiryt dooþ ben bitokned þe myracles þat oure lorde dude for hem forto aliȝth mennes hertes to þe bileue.
Note: New spelling