Alight Definition

ə-līt
alighted, alighting, alights, alit
verb
alighted, alighting, alights
To come down and settle, as after flight.
American Heritage
To get down or off; dismount.
Webster's New World
To get down, as from a vehicle; dismount.
The queen alighted from the carriage.
American Heritage
To come down after flight; descend and settle.
Webster's New World
To come by chance.
Alight on a happy solution.
American Heritage
adjective
Burning; lighted.
The discarded match was still alight.
American Heritage
Lighted; burning.
Webster's New World
Illuminated.
The sky was alight with millions of stars.
American Heritage
Lighted up.
Webster's New World

Lit, on fire, switched on.

The sticks were damp and wouldn't catch alight.
Wiktionary

Origin of Alight

  • From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan (“to alight, dismount”), from prefix ā- (compare with Gothic us-, German er-, originally meaning "out") + līhtan (“to alight”), and Old English ġelīhtan (“to alight, approach, come, come down, dismount”), equivalent to a- +‎ light (“to dismount”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English past participle of alighten to set on fire from Old English ālīhtan to illuminate ā- intensive pref. līhtan to shine (from lēoht a light light1)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan (“to lighten, relieve, alleviate, take off, take away, alight”) and Old English ġelīhtan (“to lighten, mitigate, assuage”), equivalent to a- +‎ light (“not heavy”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English alighten from Old English ālīhtan ā- intensive pref. līhtan to relieve of a burden (from līht light light2)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan (“to light up, enlighten”), equivalent to a- +‎ light. Cognate with German erleuchten (“to light up, illuminate”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English alight, from Old English *ālīhted, past participle of ālīhtan (“to alight”). See above.

    From Wiktionary

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