alight Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb to come to rest, settle
    perch; light.
    • Misfortune lighted upon him
  2. verb come down
    climb down.
    • the birds alighted
  3. adjective satellite lighted up by or as by fire or flame
    afire; on fire; ablaze; aflame; aflare.
    • forests set ablaze (or afire) by lightning
    • even the car's tires were aflame
    • a night aflare with fireworks
    • candles alight on the tables
    • houses on fire

WordNet

A*light" intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. alihten, fr. AS. alihtan; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lihtan, to alight, orig. to render light, to remove a burden from, fr. liht, leoht, light. See Light, v. i.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Alighted sometimes Alit present participle & verbal noun Alighting
Definitions
  1. To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount.
  2. To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop; as, a flying bird alights on a tree; snow alights on a roof.
  3. To come or chance (upon). R.
A*light" adjective
Etymology
Pref. a- + light.
Definitions
  1. Lighted; lighted up; in a flame. "The lamps were alight." Dickens.

Webster 1913