Lighten vs Lightening - What's the difference?
lighten | lightening |
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
To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
* Dryden
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
To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
* Shakespeare
To descend; to light.
* Book of Common Prayer
To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
* Sir J. Davies
(medicine) The sensation caused by the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity before the onset of labour
(nautical) The removal of cargo (especially crude oil) from a vessel in order to reduce its draft
As verbs the difference between lighten and lightening
is that lighten is to alleviate; to reduce the burden of while lightening is present participle of lang=en.As a noun lightening is
the sensation caused by the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity before the onset of labour.lighten
English
Verb
(en verb)- They looked unto him, were lightened .
- to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
- A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
- This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
- His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
- O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
- Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.