Brighten

(brī'tn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. BRIGHTENED; p. pr. & vb. n. BRIGHTENING.] 1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of. The purple morning, rising with the year, Salutes the spring, as her celestial eyes Adorn the world, and brighten up the skies. Dryden. 2. To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster to. “To brighten a character.” Swift. There were two honors lost, yours and your son's; For yours, — may heavenly glory brighten it. Shak. 3. To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten prospects. An ecstasy, which mothers only feel! Plays round my heart and brightens all my sorrow. Philips. 4. To make acute or witty. Johnson.

(brī'tn), v. i. To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up. And night shall brighten into day. Cotton. And, all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith.