BRIGHTEN

brighten, lighten up, lighten

(verb) make more cheerful through the use of color; “The paint will brighten the room”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

brighten (third-person singular simple present brightens, present participle brightening, simple past and past participle brightened)

(transitive) To make bright or brighter in color.

(transitive) To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to

(transitive, figuratively) To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven

(intransitive) To grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up

(intransitive) To become brighter or more cheerful in mood

To make acute or witty; to enliven.

Anagrams

• berthing, bringeth

Source: Wiktionary

Bright"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brightened; p. pr. & vb. n. Brightening.]

Note: [From Bright, a.]

1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to.

2. To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to. The present queen would brighten her character, if she would exert her authority to instill virtues into her people. Swift.

3. To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's prospects. An ecstasy, which mothers only feel, Plays round my heart and brightens all my sorrow. Philips.

4. To make acute or witty; to enliven. Johnson.

Bright"en, v. i. Etym: [AS. beorhtan.]

Definition: To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up; to become bright or cheerful. And night shall brighten into day. N. Cotton. And, all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere world be past. Goldsmith.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition