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

The man who was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred was detained "after an emblem was reported to have been set alight" during a protest on Friday, police said.

From BBC

The killers then poured petrol around the bottom of the stairs and doorway at the property, on Lambourne Road, and set it alight, despite the cries of her two-year-old daughter upstairs.

From BBC

The judge added that Krayem's actions consisted of "guarding the victim both before and during the execution and taking him to the cage where he was set alight".

From BBC

Videos shared on social media showed some of the crowd smashing windows of homes and cars being set alight.

From BBC

It had requested emergency berthing - but by the morning the Singapore-flagged vessel was alight.

From BBC

Related Words

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