lightening

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of lighten

plural lightenings

1. The act or result of making something light or lighter.

   Bradly did not think of Cora till he picked up her figure ahead of him on the downs, but with that he was aware of a sudden lightening of his spirits, and stepped out faster to overtake her.

   1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 134

2. medicineThe sensation caused by the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity before the onset of labour
3. nauticalThe removal of cargo (especially crude oil) from a vessel in order to reduce its draft

1. alternativeobsoleteproscribedAlternative form of lightning.