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Lit vs Alight - What's the difference?

lit | alight |

As a noun lit

is .

As a verb alight is

to make light or less heavy; lighten; alleviate or alight can be (with from) to spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount or alight can be to light; light up; illuminate.

As an adjective alight is

lit, on fire, switched on.

lit

English

Etymology 1

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

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • (obsolete) Little.

    • Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Little.
    • Related terms
    * (l)

    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

    * ----

    alight

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) alighten, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make light or less heavy; lighten; alleviate.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) alighten, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • (with from) To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount.
    • Passengers are alighting from the carriage
  • (with on) To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop.
    • A flying bird alights on a tree
    Snow alights on a roof .
  • To come or chance (upon).

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) alighten, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To light; light up; illuminate.
  • To set light to; light.

    • Etymology 4

    From (etyl) alight, from (etyl) *. See above.

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lit, on fire, switched on.
    • The sticks were damp and wouldn't catch alight .
  • (figuratively) Lit; on fire, burning.
    • Her face was alight with happiness.
    Usage notes
    Used only as a predicative.