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

Residents fear the fire will burn all night - and early evening pictures from the scene showed the buildings still alight.

Read more on BBC

At the peak of the fire, 100 containers were alight in four different compartments of the ship, according to Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Adam VanGerpen.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They say that this White Dwarf wrapped itself in a blanket of stolen gas that caught alight quickly, sending a pulse of pressure into the core of the star that ignited the supernova.

Read more on Space Scoop

They alighted directly in front of the address Mrs. Clarke had provided.

Read more on Literature

A mum and her three children were murdered in a fire after her sister's "jealous" ex-partner broke into their home and set it alight, a trial has heard.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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