lit

lit · verb, verb, adjective¹

1. Old English · derived fromlīhtte
2. Middle English · inherited fromlighte
3. English todaylit

Alteration of earlier light, from Middle English lighte, from Old English līhtte, first and third person singular preterite of līhtan (“to light”), by analogy with bit. More at light; compare fit (“fought”). This form was proscribed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with lighted being preferred, but is now the most common past form of light.

lit · adjective, noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*lewd-“to cower, hunch over”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*lūtilaz“little, small”
3. Old English · derived fromlȳt“little, few”
4. Middle English · derived fromlit
5. English todaylit

From Middle English lit, lut, from Old English lȳt (“little, few”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtilaz (“little, small”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to cower, hunch over”). Cognate with Old Saxon lut (“little”), Middle High German lützen (“to make small or low, decrease”). More at little.

lit · noun³

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*wel-“to see”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*wlitiz
3. Old Norse · derived fromlitr“colour, dye, complexion, face, countenance”
4. Middle English · derived fromlit
5. English todaylit

From Middle English lit, from Old Norse litr (“colour, dye, complexion, face, countenance”), from Proto-Germanic *wlitiz, *wlitaz (“sight, face”), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to see”). Cognate with Icelandic litur (“colour”), Old English wlite (“brightness, appearance, form, aspect, look, countenance, beauty, splendor, adornment”), Old English wlītan (“to gaze, look, observe”).

lit · verb⁴

1. Old Norse · derived fromlita“to colour”
2. Middle English · derived fromlitten
3. English todaylit

From Middle English litten, liten, from Old Norse lita (“to colour”), from litr (“colour”). See above.

lit · noun⁵

Short for literature.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• late 2010s Exciting, captivating; fun.
• late 2010s Excellent, fantastic; cool.