▪ I. lightening, vbl. n.1
(ˈlaɪt(ə)nɪŋ)
[f. lighten v.1 + -ing1.]
1. The rendering light or lighter; alleviation (of pain, sorrow); † comforting, cheering.
| 1530 Palsgr. 239/2 Lightnyng of burdayne, alegement. 1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 44 b, He falleth to an amendement and lightening. 1625 Gonsalvio's Sp. Inquis. 80 To relieue his pensiue and heauie heart with some kind of lightning. 1655 Brinsley Groan for Israel 24 The lightning and saving of the Ship. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 605 The Frier Rodrigue..carrying 50 [guns], went there without lightening. 1890 Athenæum 6 Dec. 769/1 The volumes, which would seem to need no lightening, are further brightened by some amusing letters. |
2. concr. Leaven. Obs. exc. dial. (see E.D.D.).
| 1720 Gibson Dispensatory iii. §8 (1721) 195 Knead it up with Barm or Lightning, and bake it. |
▪ II. lightening, vbl. n.2
(ˈlaɪt(ə)nɪŋ)
See also lightning n.
[f. lighten v.2 + -ing1.]
The shedding or shining of light; suffusion with light, lighting up; fig. enlightenment, illumination.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxvi. 1 Lord my lyȝtnynge: and my heel. c 1420 Prymer (1895) 14 God, þat tauȝtest þe hertes of þi trewe seruauntis bi liȝtnyng of þe holi goost. c 1430 Hymns Virg. 45 Bi þe liȝtnynge of a sterre To ihesu alle þre presentis þei brouȝte. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 74 Grace is an illumynacyon or lyghtnynge of the soule. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 734 The Son with calm aspect and cleer Light'ning Divine. 1814 Scott Fam. Lett. (1894) I. x. 318 A lightening in the domestic horizon. 1864 Swinburne Atalanta 1448 This lightening of clear weather. 1873 R. Broughton Nancy III. 228 A kindling of the eye, and godly lightening of all her gentle face. |
b. a lightening before death: that exhilaration or revival of the spirits which is supposed to occur in some instances just before death.
Cf. ‘a glimmering before death’ (Fletcher Sp. Curate, iv. v.).
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 90 How oft when men are at the point of death, Haue they beene merrie? Which their Keepers call A lightning before death. c 1611 Chapman Iliad xv. 213 This lightning flew before his death; which Pallas was to giue. 1641 Brome Joviall Crew v. Wks. 1873 III. 441 If it be a lightning before death, the best is, I am his heir. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. viii. 125 Not that I Lightning or fell Thunder feare, (Unless that Lightning before death appear). 1712 Addison Spect. No. 517 ¶2 We were once in great Hopes of his Recovery..but this only proved a Light'ning before Death. 1840 Hood Up Rhine 7 The old saying about a lightening before death. |
c. attrib.: lightening-column, ? nonce-wd., a beacon-pillar (fig.).
| 1767 S. Paterson Another Trav. I. 413 The first emporium of commerce—the lightening-column of navigation to all the world. |
▪ III. ˈlightening, ppl. a.
(ˈlaɪt(ə)nɪŋ)
[f. lighten v.2 + -ing2.]
That lightens, shines, flashes, etc.
| 1592 Constable Poems (1859) 1 As my heart shall aye remaine A patient object to thy lightning eyes. 1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 121 Alexander..who like a lightening thunder leaped into diuers parts. 1609 Daniel Civ. Wars vii. xciv. 197 This..Queene; Whose Victories..Haue but as onely lightning motions beene Before the ruine that ensu'd thereon. [Cf. lightening vbl. n.2 b.] 1694 Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 317/1 Aurum Fulminans: Lightning or Thundering Gold. 1877 L. Morris Epic Hades iii. 48 As I went Across the lightening fields. |