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Lighten vs Lightening - What's the difference?

lighten | lightening |

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)
  • 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

    lightening

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (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