light

light
\ \ [OE] English has two distinct words light.
\ \ The one meaning ‘illumination’ comes ultimately from Indo-European *leuk-, *louk-, *luk-, which also produced Greek leukóswhite’ (source of English leukaemia [20]) and Latin lūxlight’ (from which English gets lucifer [OE], literally ‘light-bearer’), lūmenlight’ (whence English luminous [15]), lūcēreshine’ (source of English lucid [16]), lūstrārelight up’ (whence English illustrate and lustre [16]), and lūnamoon’ (source of English lunar). Its main prehistoric West Germanic derivative was *leukhtam, from which come German and Dutch licht and English light. The word lynx may be related. Lightnot heavy’ comes from a prehistoric Germanic *lingkhtaz, a close relative of which produced English lung (the word lung thus etymologically denotes ‘something full of air and not heavy’, and indeed lungs were, and animal lungs still are called lights in English).
\ \ Cf.ILLUSTRATE, LEUKAEMIA, LUCID, LUMINOUS, LUNAR, LUSTRE, LYNX; LUNG

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Light — (l[imac]t), n. [OE. light, liht, AS. le[ o]ht; akin to OS. lioht, D. & G. licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuha[thorn], Icel. lj[=o]s, L. lux light, lucere to shine, Gr. leyko s white, Skr. ruc to shine. [root]122. Cf. {Lucid}, {Lunar}, {Luminous},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light — Light, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[=i]ht, le[ o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l[ a]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf. {Levity}), Gr …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light — Light, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lighted} (l[imac]t [e^]d) or {Lit} (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lighting}.] [AS. l[=y]htan, l[=i]htan, to shine. [root]122. See {Light}, n.] 1. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light Up — (Japanese:美術館 bijutsukan ) is a binary determination logic puzzle published by Nikoli. As of 2006, two books consisting entirely of Light Up puzzles have been published by Nikoli.Rules Light Up is played on a rectangular grid of white and black… …   Wikipedia

  • Light — Light, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Lighted} (l[imac]t [e^]d) or {Lit} (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lighting}.] [AS. l[=i]htan to alight orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider s burden, to make less heavy, fr. l[=i]ht light. See {Light} not heavy, and cf …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light — (l[imac]t), a. [AS. le[ o]ht. See {Light}, n.] [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] 1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light. [1913 Webster] 2. White or whitish; not intense or very… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light — heißt der Ort Light (Arkansas), Ort in den Vereinigten Staaten Light ist der Familienname folgender Personen: John Light (* 1974), britischer Schauspieler Judith Light (* 1949), US amerikanische Schauspielerin William Light (1786–1839),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Light It Up — is the title of:* Light It Up (1999 film), starring Usher * Light It Up (2005 album), by the band Strokeher * Light It Up (2006 song), by the group Shut Up Stella * Light It Up (2008 album), by the band Rev Theory ** Light It Up (2008 song), also …   Wikipedia

  • Light — Light, v. i. 1. To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light. [1913 Webster] 2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; with up; as, the room light up very well. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Light — Light, v. t. [See {Light} not heavy, and cf. {Light} to alight, and {Lighten} to make less heavy.] To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] From his head the heavy burgonet did light. Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • light up — {v.} Suddenly to look pleased and happy. * /Martha s face lit up when she saw her old friend./ * /Tom will really light up when he sees his new bike!/ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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