alight

¹

[ uh-lahyt ]

verb (used without object)

, a·light·ed or a·lit, a·light·ing.

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 /

adjective

1. burning; on fire
2. illuminated; lit up

alight

²

/ 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

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 ālīht lit up, from ālīhtan to light up; see light ¹

Origin of alight²

Old English ālīhtan, from a- ² + līhtan to make less heavy, from līht light ²

Example Sentences

Ellen Marshall suffered 80% burns when Leigh Pateman, 45, doused her and set her alight as she sat in a chair at her home in Skegness, Lincolnshire, during an argument on 22 April 2021.

From BBC

Part of two flats on the first and second floors remain alight, LFB added, but the cause of the fire is unknown.

From BBC

In that fire, part of the roof of the building was alight and firefighters evacuated around 25 people to safety, but there were no reports of any injuries.

From BBC

Others climb up a toxic waste hill and bring down TVs, computers and washing machine parts and set them alight.

From BBC

Miles Mitchell, a 20-year-old student, picked up the prize for the best Timothée Chalamet lookalike last month at the competition that set this trend alight.

From BBC

Related Words

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