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alight

1
[ uh-lahyt ]
/ əˈlaɪt /
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See synonyms for: alight / alighted / alit on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), a·light·ed or a·lit, a·light·ing.
to dismount from a horse, descend from a vehicle, etc.
to settle or stay after descending: The bird alighted on the tree.
to encounter or notice something accidentally.
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Origin of alight

1
before 1000; Middle English alighten,Old English ālīhtan, equivalent to ā-a-3 + līhtan to relieve (originally an animal mount) of weight, light2)

Other definitions for alight (2 of 2)

alight2
[ uh-lahyt ]
/ əˈlaɪt /

adverb, adjective
provided with light; lighted up.
on fire; burning.

Origin of alight

2
before 1000; now taken as a-1 + light1; originally past participle of alight to light up (Middle English alihten,Old English onlīhtan, equivalent to ona-1 + līhtan to light1)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alight in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for alight (1 of 2)

alight1
/ (əˈlaɪt) /

verb alights, alighting, alighted or alit (intr)
(usually foll by from) to step out (of) or get down (from)to alight from a taxi
to come to rest; settle; landa thrush alighted on the wall

Word Origin for alight

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

British Dictionary definitions for alight (2 of 2)

alight2
/ (əˈlaɪt) /

adjective, adverb (postpositive)
burning; on fire
illuminated; lit up

Word Origin for alight

Old English ālīht lit up, from ālīhtan to light up; see light 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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