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Lighten vs Lit - What's the difference?

lighten | lit |

In transitive terms the difference between lighten and lit

is that lighten is to emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning while lit is to colour; dye.

As an adjective lit is

little.

As a noun lit is

little.

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

    lit

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) lit, lut, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (obsolete) Little.
  • Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Little.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) lihte, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (head)
  • (light)
  • (US, dialectal) To run, or light
  • * {{quote-news, 1988, April 8, Grant Pick, Johnny Washington's Life, Chicago Reader citation
  • , passage=With that the kid lits off down the street, and, what do you know! }}

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • illuminated
  • * He walked down the lit corridor.
  • (slang) intoxicated or under the influence of drugs; stoned
  • (slang) Sexually aroused (usually a female), especially visibly sexually aroused (e.g., labial swelling is present)
  • Derived terms
    * half lit

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) lit, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (-)
  • Colour; blee; dye; stain.
  • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 4

    From (etyl) litten, liten, from (etyl) . See above.

    Verb

    (litt)
  • To colour; dye.
  • Etymology 5

    Short for literature.

    Noun

    (-)
  • Abbreviated form of literature.
  • Derived terms
    * chick lit * lit crit * litfan

    Anagrams

    * ----