light

light
{{11}}light (adj.1) "not heavy," from O.E. leoht "not heavy, light in weight; easy, trifling; quick, agile," from P.Gmc. *lingkhtaz (Cf. O.N. lettr, Swed. lätt, O.Fris., M.Du. licht, Ger. leicht, Goth. leihts), from PIE root *legwh- "not heavy, having little weight" (Cf. L. levis "light," O.Ir. lu "small;" see LEVER (Cf. lever)). The notion in make light of (1520s) is of "unimportance." Alternative spelling lite, the darling of advertisers, is first recorded 1962. The adverb is O.E. leohte, from the adjective. Light-skirts "woman of easy virtue" is attested from 1590s. To make light of is from 1520s.
{{12}}light (adj.2) "not dark," O.E. leoht, common Germanic (Cf. O.S., O.H.G. lioht, O.Fris. liacht, Ger. licht "bright," from the source of O.E. leoht (see LIGHT (Cf. light) (n.)). Meaning "pale-hued" is from 1540s.
{{12}}light (n.) "brightness, radiant energy," O.E. leht, earlier leoht "light, daylight; luminous, beautiful," from W.Gmc. *leukhtam (Cf. O.S. lioht, O.Fris. liacht, M.Du. lucht, Du. licht, O.H.G. lioht, Ger. Licht, Goth. liuhaþ "light"), from PIE *leuk- "light, brightness" (Cf. Skt. rocate "shines;" Arm. lois "light," lusin "moon;" Gk. leukos "bright, shining, white;" L. lucere "to shine," lux "light," lucidus "clear;" O.C.S. luci "light;" Lith. laukas "pale;" Welsh llug "gleam, glimmer;" O.Ir. loche "lightning," luchair "brightness;" Hittite lukezi "is bright").
The -gh- was an Anglo-French scribal attempt to render the Germanic hard -h- sound, which has since disappeared from this word. The figurative spiritual sense was in Old English; the sense of "mental illumination" is first recorded mid-15c. Meaning "something used for igniting" is from 1680s. Meaning "a consideration which puts something in a certain view (e.g. in light of) is from 1680s. Something that's a joy and a delight has been the light of (someone's) eyes since Old English:
Ðu eart dohtor min, minra eagna leoht [Juliana].
To see the light "come into the world" is from 1680s; later in a Christian sense.
{{13}}light (v.1) "touch down," from O.E. lihtan "to alight; alleviate, leave," from P.Gmc. *linkhtijan, lit. "to make light," from *lingkhtaz "not heavy" (see LIGHT (Cf. light) (adj.1)). Apparently the ground sense is "to dismount a horse, etc., and thus relieve it of one's weight." To light out "leave hastily" is 1870, from a nautical meaning "move out, move heavy objects," of unknown origin but perhaps belonging to this word (Cf. LIGHTER (Cf. lighter) (1)).
{{14}}light (v.2) "to illuminate, fill with brightness," O.E. lyhtan, common Germanic (Cf. O.S. liohtian, O.H.G. liuhtan, Ger. leuchten, Goth. liuhtjan "to light"), from source of from LIGHT (Cf. light) (n.). Related: Lighted; LIGHTING (Cf. lighting).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Light — (l[imac]t), n. [OE. light, liht, AS. le[ o]ht; akin to OS. lioht, D. & G. licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuha[thorn], Icel. lj[=o]s, L. lux light, lucere to shine, Gr. leyko s white, Skr. ruc to shine. [root]122. Cf. {Lucid}, {Lunar}, {Luminous},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • light — light1 [līt] n. [ME liht < OE lēoht, akin to Ger licht < IE base * leuk , to shine, bright > Gr leukos, white, L lux & lumen, light, lucere, to shine, luna, moon, Welsh llug, gleam] 1. a) the form of electromagnetic radiation that acts… …   English World dictionary

  • Light — Light, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[=i]ht, le[ o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l[ a]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf. {Levity}), Gr …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • light — Ⅰ. light [1] ► NOUN 1) the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; electromagnetic radiation from about 390 to 740 nm in wavelength. 2) a source of illumination. 3) a device producing a flame or spark. 4) (lights) traffic… …   English terms dictionary

  • Light Me Up — Студийный альбом The Pretty Reckless …   Википедия

  • Light Me Up — Álbum de The Pretty Reckless Publicación 27 de agosto de 2010 (ver Lanzamiento en el mundo) Grabación agosto de 2009 abril de 2010 …   Wikipedia Español

  • light — [adj1] illuminated ablaze, aglow, bright, brilliant, burnished, clear, cloudless, flashing, fluorescent, glossy, glowing, lambent, lucent, luminous, lustrous, phosphorescent, polished, radiant, refulgent, resplendent, rich, scintillant, shining,… …   New thesaurus

  • Light — Light, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lighted} (l[imac]t [e^]d) or {Lit} (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lighting}.] [AS. l[=y]htan, l[=i]htan, to shine. [root]122. See {Light}, n.] 1. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light Up — (Japanese:美術館 bijutsukan ) is a binary determination logic puzzle published by Nikoli. As of 2006, two books consisting entirely of Light Up puzzles have been published by Nikoli.Rules Light Up is played on a rectangular grid of white and black… …   Wikipedia

  • Light — Light, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Lighted} (l[imac]t [e^]d) or {Lit} (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lighting}.] [AS. l[=i]htan to alight orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider s burden, to make less heavy, fr. l[=i]ht light. See {Light} not heavy, and cf …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light — (l[imac]t), a. [AS. le[ o]ht. See {Light}, n.] [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] 1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light. [1913 Webster] 2. White or whitish; not intense or very… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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