Light1, n.
(līt), n. [A-S. leóht, lyht, O. Sax. lioht, leoht, liaht, Goth. liuhath, O. H. Ger. lioht, leoht, M. H. Ger. lieht, N. H. Ger. & D. licht, from Goth. liuhan, equivalent to Lat. lucere.]
Sense 1. That agent or force in nature by the action of which upon the organs of sight, objects from which it proceeds are rendered visible; 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 192,000 miles per second; but now generally considered by men of science as consisting, 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 latter, or the now prevalent, view of the nature of light, is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by Newton, as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory.
Solar Ray of Light, separated by a prism into the seven primary colors. a, prism; c d, spectrum; v, violet; i, indigo; b, blue; g, green; y, yellow; o, orange; r, red.
Sense 2. The source of the illuminating medium; that which gives light, or renders objects distinct, as the sun, a star, a candle, a light-house, and the like.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in. Acts xvi. 2.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 16.
Sense 3. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window-pane, a sky-light.
There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. 1 Kings vii. 4.
Sense 4. Life; existence.
O, spring to light! auspicious Babe, be born! Pope.
Sense 5. A division or space in a window-frame for a single pane of glass; hence, also, a pane of glass.
Sense 6. That which illumines or makes clear to the intellect; hence, also, mental or spiritual illumination; the assent, conviction, or instruction of the intellect; enlightenment; instruction; knowledge; information; especially, the source of moral or religious enlightenment.
He shall never know That I had any light of this from thee. Shak.
Sense 7. Day; especially the dawn of day.
The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. Job xxiv. 14.
Sense 8. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
Why am I asked, What next shall see the light? Pope.
Sense 9. A time of prosperity and happiness; joy; felicity.
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. Isa. lviii. 8.
Sense 10. (Paint.) The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; also, the illuminated part of a picture; the part which lies opposite to the luminary by which the piece is supposed to be enlightened, and is painted in vivid colors; — opposed to shade.
Sense 11. The point of view or position in which any thing is seen, or from which instruction or illustration is supposed to be derived.
An author who has not learned the art of ranging his thoughts and setting them in proper lights, will lose himself in confusion. Addison.
Sense 12. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity.
☞ Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefitting, or enlivening mankind.
Ancient lights (Law), window lights, which have been opened and enjoyed without molestation, and have become established by the legal time of prescription. Kent. Bouvier. — Northern light, or lights. See AURORA. — To come to light, to be detected; to be discovered or found. — The light of the countenance, favor; smiles. “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” Ps. iv. 6. — To stand in one’s own light, to be the means of preventing one’s good, or frustrating one’s own purposes.
