Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
LIGHTENS
Verb
lightens
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of lighten
Anagrams
• enlights, slighten, slingeth
Source: Wiktionary
LIGHTEN
Light"en, v. i. Etym: [See Light to alight.]
Definition: To descend; to light. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us. Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.]
Light"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lightened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening.] Etym: [OE. lightenen. See Light to kindle, illuminate.]
1. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash. This dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion. Shak.
2. To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.
Light"en, v. t. Etym: [See Light to illuminate.]
1. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets. [In this sense less common than light.] A key of fire ran all along the shore, And lightened all the river with a blaze. Dryden.
2. To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense less common than enlighten.] Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray. Sir J. Davies.
3. To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning. His eye . . . lightens forth Controlling majesty. Shak.
4. To free from trouble and fill with joy. They looked unto him, were lightened. Ps. xxxiv. 5.
Light"en, v. t. Etym: [See Light not heavy.]
1. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.
2. To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.
3. To cheer; to exhilarate. Lighens my humor with his merry jests. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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2 December 2024
BARE
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