Allay vs Lighten - What's the difference?

In transitive terms the difference between allay and lighten

is that allay is to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate while lighten is to emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.

As a noun allay

is alleviation; abatement; check.

allay

English

Alternative forms

* (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)

To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.

to allay popular excitement

to allay the tumult of the passions

To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate.

to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity

(obsolete) To subside, abate, become peaceful.

* 1526 , William Tyndale, trans. Bible , Mark IV:

And the wynde alayed , and there folowed a greate calme: and he sayde unto them: why are ye fearfull?

* Shakespeare

When the rage allays .

(archaic) To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate.

(Fuller)

Quotations

He had to pretend to be drunk in order to allay the suspicions which might have been aroused by his appearance at the gate.
—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in A Study in Scarlet

Synonyms

* alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet

Noun

alleviation; abatement; check

References

Anagrams

* ----

lighten

English

Verb

(en verb)

To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

To make light or lighter in weight.

To make less serious or more cheerful.

* Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5

They looked unto him, were lightened .

To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets

* Dryden

A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.

To become light or lighter in weight.

To become less serious or more cheerful.

To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.

To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.

* Shakespeare

This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.

To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.

* Shakespeare

His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.

To descend; to light.

* Book of Common Prayer

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.

To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.

* Sir J. Davies

Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.

Conjugation

(en-conj-simple)

Derived terms

* lighten up