Light (līt) , noun
[Old English light, liht, Anglo-Saxon leíht; akin to Old Saxon lioht, Dutch & German licht, Old High German lioht, Gothic liuhaþ, Icelandic ljōs, Latin lux light, lucere to shine, Greek leyko`s white, Sanskrit ruc to shine. r122. Compare Lucid, Lunar, Luminous, Lynx.]
1.
That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.
Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles per second; but it is now generally understood to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by Newton (but long since abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory of light.
2.
That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in. — Acts xvi. 29
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. — Gen. i. 16
3.
The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.
The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. — Job xxiv. 14
4.
The brightness of the eye or eyes.
He seemed to find his way without his eyes;
For out o'door he went without their helps,
And, to the last, bended their light on me. — Shakespeare
5.
The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.
There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. — I Kings vii.4
6.
Life; existence.
O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born! — Pope
7.
Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light. — Shakespeare
8.
The power of perception by vision.
My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm xxxviii. 10
9.
That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.
He shall never know
That I had any light of this from thee. — Shakespeare
10.
Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily. — Is. lviii. 8
11.
(Painting) The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; -- opposed to shade. Compare
Chiaroscuro.
12.
Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put them in the right
light.
Frequent consideration of a thing... shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance. — South
13.
One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the
lights of the age or of antiquity.
Joan of Arc,
A light of ancient France. — Tennyson
14.
(Pyrotech.) A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal
light.
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm iv. 6
Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind.
Light (līt"ẽr) , adjective
[Old English light, liht, Anglo-Saxon līht, leíht; akin to Dutch ligt, German leicht, Old High German līhti, Icelandic lēttr, Danish let, Swedish latt, Gothic leihts, and perh. to Latin levis (compare Levity), Greek 'elachy`s small, Sanskrit laghu light. r125.]
1.
Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
These weights did not exert their natural gravity,... insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. — Addison
2.
Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a
light burden, or load.
Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. — Matt. xi. 29, 30
3.
Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a
light affliction or task.
— Chaucer Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. — Dryden
4.
Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.
5.
Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
6.
Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
Unmarried men are best friends, best masters... but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away. — Bacon
7.
Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
8.
Slight; not important; as, a light error. — Shakespeare
9.
Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
10.
Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
11.
Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
12.
Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.
13.
Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a
light, vain person; a
light mind.
There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. — Tillotson
14.
Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. — Shakespeare
Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful. — Hawthorne
15.
Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain? — Shakespeare
16.
Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
To a fair semblance doth light faith annex. — Spenser
17.
Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of
light character.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband. — Shakespeare
18.
Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
19.
Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
Collocations (11)
Light cavalry or Light horse (Military) , light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses.
Light eater , one who eats but little.
Light infantry , infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions.
Light of foot , (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet.
Light of heart , gay, cheerful.
Light oil (Chemistry) , the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene.
Light sails (Nautical) , all the sails above the topsails, with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. — Dana
Light sleeper , one easily wakened.
Light weight , a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Compare Feather weight, under Feather. [Cant] To make light of , to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.
To set light by , to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.