Note: Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material
particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions
from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right
lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles
per second; but it is now generally understood to
consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or
substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or
undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether,
assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in
vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as
the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the
nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave
theory; the other, advocated by Newton (but long since
abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian
theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in
electrical oscillations, and is known as the
electro-magnetic theory of light.
2. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the
sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in. --Acts
xvi. 29.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to
rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the
night. --Gen. i. 16.
3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible;
day; especially, the dawn of day.
The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the
poor and needy. --Job xxiv.
14.
4. The brightness of the eye or eyes.
He seemed to find his way without his eyes; For out
o' door he went without their helps, And, to the
last, bended their light on me. --Shak.
5. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window,
or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the
compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.
There were windows in three rows, and light was
against light in three ranks. --I Kings
vii.4.
O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born!
--Pope.
7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public
observation; publicity.
The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered;
he would never bring them to light. --Shak.
8. The power of perception by vision.
My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes,
it also is gone from me. --Ps. xxxviii.
10.
9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or
spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge;
information.
He shall never know That I had any light of this
from thee. --Shak.
10. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thy health shall spring forth speedily. --Is.
lviii. 8.
11. (Paint.) The manner in which the light strikes upon a
picture; that part of a picture which represents those
objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the
more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; --
opposed to {shade}. Cf. {Chiaroscuro}.
12. Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances
presented to view; point of view; as, to state things
fairly and put them in the right light.
Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in
its several lights and various ways of appearance.
--South.
13. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example;
as, the lights of the age or of antiquity.
Joan of Arc, A light of ancient France. --Tennyson.
14. (Pyrotech.) A firework made by filling a case with a
substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored
flame; as, a Bengal light.
Note: Light is used figuratively to denote that which
resembles physical light in any respect, as
illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening
mankind.
{Ancient lights} (Law), {Calcium light}, {Flash light}, etc.
See under {Ancient}, {Calcium}, etc.
{Light ball} (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to
afford light; -- sometimes made so as to be fired from a
cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket.
{Light barrel} (Mil.), an empty powder barrel pierced with
holes and filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to
light up a ditch or a breach.
{Light dues} (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain
waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses.
{Light iron}, a candlestick. [Obs.]
{Light keeper}, a person appointed to take care of a
lighthouse or light-ship.
{Light money}, charges laid by government on shipping
entering a port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and
light-ships.
{The light of the countenance}, favor; kindness; smiles.
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon
us. --Ps. iv. 6.
{Northern lights}. See {Aurora borealis}, under {Aurora}.
{To bring to light}, to cause to be disclosed.
{To come to light}, to be disclosed.
{To see the light}, to come into the light; hence, to come
into the world or into public notice; as, his book never
saw the light.
2. White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a
deep shade; moderately colored; as, a light color; a light
brown; a light complexion.
If a thousand candles be all lighted from one.
--Hakewill.
And the largest lamp is lit. --Macaulay.
Absence might cure it, or a second mistress Light up
another flame, and put out this. --Addison.
2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to
spread over with light; -- often with up.
Ah, hopeless, lasting flames ! like those that burn
To light the dead. --Pope.
One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as
brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I
suppose, fifty pounds. --F. Harrison.
The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply His absent
beams, has lighted up the sky. --Dryden.
3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by
means of a light.
His bishops lead him forth, and light him on.
--Landor.
{To light a fire}, to kindle the material of a fire.
These weights did not exert their natural gravity, .
. . insomuch that I could not guess which was light
or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. --Addison.
2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by
physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light. --Matt. xi.
29, 30.
3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not
difficult; as, a light affliction or task. --Chaucer.
Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.
--Dryden.
4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as,
light food; also, containing little nutriment.
5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light
troops; a troop of light horse.
6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments;
hence, active; nimble; swift.
Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . .
but not always best subjects, for they are light to
run away. --Bacon.
7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently
ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. --Shak.
9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as,
a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy,
graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light
style of execution.
13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced
by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled;
volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
There is no greater argument of a light and
inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at
religion. --Tillotson.
14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or
solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.
--Shak.
Specimens of New England humor laboriously light
and lamentably mirthful. --Hawthorne.
15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged;
dizzy; giddy.
Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?
--Shak.
16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.
--Spenser.
17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped;
diminished; as, light coin.
19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
{Light cavalry}, {Light horse} (Mil.), light-armed soldiers
mounted on strong and active horses.
{Light eater}, one who eats but little.
{Light infantry}, infantry soldiers selected and trained for
rapid evolutions.
{Light of foot}.
(a) Having a light step.
(b) Fleet.
{Light of heart}, gay, cheerful.
{Light oil} (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water,
forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal
tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene.
{Light sails} (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails,
with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. --Dana.
{Light sleeper}, one easily wakened.
{Light weight}, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey,
who is below a standard medium weight. Cf. {Feather
weight}, under {Feather}. [Cant]
{To make light of}, to treat as of little consequence; to
slight; to disregard.
{To set light by}, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of
no importance; to despise.
2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with
up; as, the room lights up very well.
From his head the heavy burgonet did light. --Spenser.
When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
--Gen. xxiv.
64.
Slowly rode across a withered heath, And lighted at
a ruined inn. --Tennyson.
2. To feel light; to be made happy. [Obs.]
It made all their hearts to light. --Chaucer.
3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a
bird or insect.
[The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all.
--Sir. J.
Davies.
On the tree tops a crested peacock lit. --Tennyson.
4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or
upon.
On me, me only, as the source and spring Of all
corruption, all the blame lights due. --Milton.
5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly
with into.
The several degrees of vision, which the assistance
of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us
to conceive. --Locke.
They shall light into atheistical company. --South.
And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth, And Lilia with
the rest. --Tennyson.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. --Prov.
xx. 1.
Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape
Crushed the sweet poison of misused wine. --Milton.
Note: Wine is essentially a dilute solution of ethyl alcohol,
containing also certain small quantities of ethers and
ethereal salts which give character and bouquet.
According to their color, strength, taste, etc., wines
are called {red}, {white}, {spirituous}, {dry},
{light}, {still}, etc.
2. A liquor or beverage prepared from the juice of any fruit
or plant by a process similar to that for grape wine; as,
currant wine; gooseberry wine; palm wine.
3. The effect of drinking wine in excess; intoxication.
Noah awoke from his wine. --Gen. ix. 24.
{Birch wine}, {Cape wine}, etc. See under {Birch}, {Cape},
etc.
{Spirit of wine}. See under {Spirit}.
{To have drunk wine of ape} or {wine ape}, to be so drunk as
to be foolish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
{Wine acid}. (Chem.) See {Tartaric acid}, under {Tartaric}.
[Colloq.]
{Wine apple} (Bot.), a large red apple, with firm flesh and a
rich, vinous flavor.
{Cockshut time} or {light}, evening twilight; nightfall; --
so called in allusion to the tome at which the cockshut
used to be spread. [Obs.] --Shak. B. Jonson.
Holy Scripture become resplendent; or, as one might
say, incandescent throughout. --I. Taylor.
{Incandescent lamp} or {light} (Elec.), a kind of lamp in
which the light is produced by a thin filament of
conducting material, usually carbon