Lighten

[lahyt-n] /ˈlaɪt n/

verb (used without object)
1.
to become lighter or less dark; brighten:
The sky lightened after the storm.
2.
to brighten or light up, as the eyes or features:
Her face lightened when she heard the good news.
3.
to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject):
It thundered and lightened for hours.
4.
Archaic. to shine, gleam, or be bright:
steel blades lightening in the sun.
verb (used with object)
5.
to give light to; illuminate:
A full moon lightened the road.
6.
to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.):
A large smile lightened his face.
7.
to make lighter or less dark:
Add white to lighten the paint.
8.
Obsolete. .
9.
Obsolete. to flash or emit like lightning (usually followed by out, forth, or down):
eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.
[lahyt-n] /ˈlaɪt n/
verb (used with object)
1.
to make lighter in weight:
to lighten the load on a truck.
2.
to lessen the load of or upon:
to lighten a cargo ship.
3.
to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate:
to lighten taxes; to lighten someone’s cares.
4.
to cheer or gladden:
Such news lightens my heart.
verb (used without object)
5.
to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up:
Border inspections have lightened recently.
6.
to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.:
His worries seem to have lightened somewhat.
7.
to become less gloomy; perk up:
People’s spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.
/ˈlaɪtən/
verb
1.
to become or make light
2.
(intransitive) to shine; glow
3.
(intransitive) (of lightning) to flash
4.
(transitive) an archaic word for enlighten
/ˈlaɪtən/
verb
1.
to make or become less heavy
2.
to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate
3.
to make or become more cheerful or lively
v.

“to make less heavy,” figuratively “to make cheerful,” mid-14c., from light (adj.1) + -en (1). Related: Lightened; lightening.

“shed light upon, illuminate, brighten,” early 14c., from light (n.) -en (1). Meaning “to grow brighter” is late 14c. Of faces, expressions, etc., from 1795. Related: Lightened; lightening.