☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then he called for a light, and sprang in. Acts xvi. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day. [ 1913 Webster ]

The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. Job xxiv. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The brightness of the eye or eyes. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. I Kings vii.4. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Life; existence. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born ! Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. The power of perception by vision. [ 1913 Webster ]

My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me. Ps. xxxviii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information. [ 1913 Webster ]

He shall never know
That I had any light of this from thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily. Is. lviii. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Joan of Arc,
A light of ancient France. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 power 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. --
To stand in one's own light, to take a position which is injurious to one's own interest. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a thousand candles be all lighted from one. Hakewill. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the largest lamp is lit. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absence might cure it, or a second mistress
Light up another flame, and put out this. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ah, hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burn
To light the dead. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply
His absent beams, has lighted up the sky. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light. [ 1913 Webster ]

His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up; as, the room light up very well. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt. xi. 29, 30. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered. [ 1913 Webster ]

To a fair semblance doth light faith annex. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character. [ 1913 Webster ]

A light wife doth make a heavy husband. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin. [ 1913 Webster ]

19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

From his head the heavy burgonet did light. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. Gen. xxiv. 64. [ 1913 Webster ]

Slowly rode across a withered heath,
And lighted at a ruined inn. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To feel light; to be made happy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It made all their hearts to light. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The bee ] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all. Sir. J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the tree tops a crested peacock lit. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

On me, me only, as the source and spring
Of all corruption, all the blame lights due. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into. [ 1913 Webster ]

The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

They shall light into atheistical company. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth,
And Lilia with the rest. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]