Where does “alight” come from?
Alight comes from Middle English alight, from Old English ālīhted, combining the Old English prefix ā- with a verb from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną, ultimately descended from Proto-Indo-European lewk-, meaning to shine or be light.
alight (English): To get off or exit a vehicle or animal; to...
Definitions
- To get off or exit a vehicle or animal; to...
Ancestry of “alight”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | alighten | — |
| 2 | Old English | ālīhtan | to light up, enlighten; to lighten, relieve,... |
| 3 | Old English | līhtan | to light; to alight |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
Words derived from “alight”