Main Entry:

¹light·en

Pronunciation:

\ˈlī-t^ən\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

light·ened; light·en·ing \ˈlīt-niŋ, ˈlī-t^ən-iŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English lightenen, from light

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1: to make light or clear : illuminate2archaic : enlighten3: to make (as a color) lighterintransitive verb1 aarchaic : to shine brightly b: to grow lighter : brighten2: to give out flashes of lightning

— light·en·er \ˈlīt-nər, ˈlī-t^ən-ər\ noun