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Lightening vs Lightened - What's the difference?

lightening | lightened |

As verbs the difference between lightening and lightened

is that lightening is present participle of lang=en while lightened is past tense of lighten.

As a noun lightening

is the sensation caused by the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity before the onset of labour.

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
  • lightened

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (lighten)

  • 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