alight

¹

[uh-lahyt]

verb (used without object)

alighted, alit, alighting. 

1. to dismount from a horse, descend from a vehicle, etc.

2. to settle or stay after descending.

   The bird alighted on the tree.

3. to encounter or notice something accidentally.

alight

²

[uh-lahyt]

adverb

1. provided with light; lighted up.

2. on fire; burning.

alight

¹

/ əˈlaɪt /

verb

1. (usually foll by from) to step out (of) or get down (from)

   to alight from a taxi

2. to come to rest; settle; land

   a thrush alighted on the wall

alight

²

/ əˈlaɪt /

adjective

1. burning; on fire

2. illuminated; lit up

Word History and Origins

Origin of alight¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English alighten, Old English ālīhtan; equivalent to a- ³ + light ³ )

Origin of alight²

First recorded before 1000; originally past participle of alight “to light up,” Middle English alihten, Old English onlīhtan, equivalent to a- ¹ + light ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of alight¹

Old English ālīhtan, from _a- ² + līhtan to make less heavy, from līht _light ²

Origin of alight²

Old English ālīht lit up, from ālīhtan to light up; see _light ¹

Example Sentences

An Alabama Death Row inmate convicted of murdering a man over a drug debt by setting him alight is to be executed by nitrogen gas in the southern US state on Thursday.

Read more on Barron's

His memories alight on his father, Wheeler, an attorney who turned down a high-paying job in Chicago to hang out his shingle in Port William.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rangers' search for a replacement quickly alighted upon Gerrard, who was of interest to club's American owners in the summer, before a number of issues resulted in him withdrawing from the running.

Read more on BBC

With the roof alight and at risk of collapse, firefighters needed to work almost entirely from ladder trucks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The contestants were challenged to pull a giant Trojan horse up a hill and through a series of gates that each required a special code, before eventually setting the horse alight.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• descend 
• disembark 
• get off 
• perch 
• touch down