alight

alight
I. intransitive verb (alighted; also alit; alighting) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ālīhtan, from ā- (perfective prefix) + līhtan to alight — more at abide, light Date: before 12th century 1. to come down from something (as a vehicle): as a. dismount b. deplane 2. to descend from or as if from the air and come to rest ; land, settle 3. archaic to come by chance • alightment noun II. adjective Date: 15th century 1. chiefly British being on fire 2. lighted up

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • alight — vb 1 *descend, dismount Contrasted words: mount, *ascend, scale, climb 2 Alight, light, land, perch, roost share the meaning to come to rest after or as if after a flight, a descent, or a fall. Alight suggests previous controlled or gentle… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • alight — Ⅰ. alight [1] ► VERB 1) formal, chiefly Brit. descend from a vehicle. 2) (alight on) chance to notice. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ. alight [2] …   English terms dictionary

  • Alight — A*light , a. [Pref. a + light.] Lighted; lighted up; in a flame. The lamps were alight. Dickens. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Alight — A*light , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Alighted}sometimes {Alit}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Alighting}.] [OE. alihten, fr. AS. [=a]l[=i]htan; pref. [=a] (cf. Goth. us , G. er , orig. meaning out) + l[=i]htan, to alight, orig. to render light, to remove a burden… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alight — verb climb down, depart, descend, descendere, disembark, dismount, egress, evacuate, exit, get down, get off, ground oneself, land, leave, part, set down, step down Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • alight on — alight (up)on (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb Archaic. To find or meet by chance: bump into, chance on (or upon), come across, come on (or upon), find, happen on (or upon), light on (or upon), run across, run into, stumble on (or upon), tumble on.… …   English dictionary for students

  • alight — [v] land come down, debark, descend, disembark, dismount, get off, light, perch, settle, touch down; concepts 159,181 …   New thesaurus

  • alight — alight1 [ə līt′] vi. alighted or alit, alighting [ME alighten < OE ālīhtan < a , out, off + līhtan, to dismount, render light < liht: see LIGHT2 (to dismount)] 1. to get down or off; dismount 2. to come down after flight; descend and… …   English World dictionary

  • alight — a|light1 [əˈlaıt] adj [not before noun] [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Probably from a + light] 1.) burning ▪ The car was set alight and pushed over a hill. 2.) literary someone whose face or eyes are alight looks excited, happy, etc alight with… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • alight — [[t]əla͟ɪt[/t]] alights, alighting, alighted 1) ADJ: v n ADJ, v link ADJ If something is alight, it is burning. Several buildings were set alight... The gas fire was still alight. Syn: ablaze 2) ADJ: v link ADJ, oft ADJ with n If someone s eyes… …   English dictionary

  • alight — I UK [əˈlaɪt] / US adjective [never before noun] 1) burning set something alight: Dozens of cars were set alight. 2) literary if someone s face or eyes are alight, their expression shows a feeling such as excitement or happiness 3) literary… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”