lighten

verb

1. 1

   To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

   to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets

   A Key of fire ran all along the shore, And lighten’d all the river with the blaze:

2. 2

   To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.

3. 3

   archaicTo flash lightning, to give off lightning.

   Enter the Conjurer; it lightens and thunders […]

   […] this dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion.

   While we were in the Twins it began to thunder and lighten and pour with rain.

4. 4

   To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.

   […] behold his eye, As bright as is the eagle’s, lightens forth Controlling majesty:

5. 5

   archaicTo illuminate with knowledge.

   O Light which mak’st the Light, which makes the Day, Which setst the Eye without and Mind within, Lighten my spirit with one cleare heavenly ray, Which now to view it selfe doth first begin.

verb

1. 1

   To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

   Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.

   Many hands lighten the workload.

   She cites a 2015 British poll conducted by the Family Holiday Association that found vacations can serve as “happiness anchors” that provide memories of familial joy to lighten the burdens of adulthood.

2. 2

   To make light or lighter in weight.

3. 3

   To make less serious or more cheerful.

   They looked unto him, were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

4. 4

   To become light or lighter in weight.

5. 5

   To become less serious or more cheerful.

verb

1. 1

   To descend; to light.

   Book of Common Prayer O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.

Forms

past tense

lightened

past participle

lightened

present participle

lightening

third person singular

lightens