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intr.v. a·light·ed or a·lit (ə-lĭt), a·light·ing, a·lights 1. To come down and settle, as after flight: "A swarm of black birds flew across the road and alighted in a pecan tree" (Ernest J. Gaines). 2. To get down, as from a vehicle; dismount: The queen alighted from the carriage. 3. To come by chance: alight on a happy solution. [Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan : ā-, intensive pref. + līhtan, to relieve of a burden (from līht, light; see LIGHT2).] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
adj. 1. Burning; lighted: The discarded match was still alight. 2. Illuminated: The sky was alight with millions of stars. [Middle English, past participle of alighten, to set on fire, from Old English ālīhtan, to illuminate : ā-, intensive pref. + līhtan, to shine (from lēoht, a light; see LIGHT1).] a·light adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
