alighten

present singular third person alightens · participle present alightening · participle past alightened · past alightened

1. To alight, to dismount or get down from.

   When I alighten at my destination, I saw them going in the rickshaw.

   1971, Shankar's Weekly - Volume 24, Part 2, page 52

   2 more examples

   Her house was barely half a kilometre away from the nearest bus stage; she alightened with ease and wiped the thin layer of sweat that had accumulated on her forehead.

   1975, Bingu Matata, Free Love, page 34

   In case the train halts on account of such alert, the patrolling parties should alighten from the running train and be on the look out for the offenders.

   1990, The Indian Police Journal - Volume 37, page 21

2. To alight; to land, to descend and rest.

   Both of the two jays that had just moved flew out of the tree and alightened in the boughs of a nearby cedar.

   2002, Diana Hignutt, Moonsword, page 214

   2 more examples

   The bees always alighten at the bottom of the spike, and, crawling spirally up it, sucked one flower after the other.

   1862, Journal of Horticulture and Practical Gardening - Volume 3, page 163

   Even under the best ecological conditions, only a fraction of the flowers on which a bee alightens provide nectar and/or pollen.

   2014, Raymond P. Kesner, David S. Olton, Neurobiology of Comparative Cognition

present singular third person alightens · participle present alightening · participle past alightened · past alightened

1. To lighten; to reduce in weight or heaviness.

   On the fifth day Mr. Hedly (who first motioned lot-drawing) and another died, whereby their boat was somewhat alightened.

   1965, Thomas Fuller, P. Austin Nuttal, The History of the Worthies of England - Volume 1, page 459

   2 more examples

   I shivered and shook, and would have screqamed in my fright—but the Fiend,—as he seemed to be, —in a hoarse, croaking voice, charged me to keep silence,—saying that I had lain seven years bound for my sin, and that my soul would speedily be sent on an errand to sinners yet on the earth, to warn them from the evil of their ways, —and that, then, my punishment in Purgatory would be alightened.

   1850, Thomas Cooper, Captain Cobler; Or, The Lincolnshire Rebellion, page 311

   An honest poor man dwelling in Faladon beside Alnwick said to me that where he had denied to a gentleman his neighbour an unreasonable request, he answered rigorously these words: I shall alighten thee of that thing which thou bearest thee bold of — and within four hours after, was reaved him sixteen heads of nowt [=cattle].

   1997, Andrew J. Brown, Robert Ferrar, page 43

present singular third person alightens · participle present alightening · participle past alightened · past alightened

1. To make light; to illuminate or brighten.

   My joy shall be in the midst of thousands ; my soul shall alighten through the gloom of the fight !"

   2010, James MacPherson, The Poems of Ossian - Volume 4, page 297

   2 more examples

   Of those who should be alightened by his faith and sanctified by his grace Christ designed to form a holy society, over which he will reign for ever.

   1806, Permiffion, The Laity's Directory, page 62

   Sometimes, indeed, when for an hour or two my spirits are alightened, I glimmer a little into futurity; but my principal, and indeed my only pleasurable employment, is looking backwards and forwards in a moral and religious way.

   1828, John Gibson Lockhart, Life of Robert Burns, page 46