Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lichtin, v.² Also: -en, lȳchtin, -en, lychtting; inflected lich(t)n-, lych(t)n-, lightn-. [ME. lighten (Cursor M.), lightn-, lyghten, liȝten, -ne, f. Licht a.²]

1. tr. To make bright or light, to light up, brighten, to give light to or shed light on. Also in fig. contexts.(1) 1456 Hay II. 157/36.
As sonne and mone lichtnis the hevin and all the warld, sa lychtnys the twa eyne all the mannis persone c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5559.
As Phebus, in the orient, Lichtnis [v.r. lychtnis] in haist the occident(2) Arundel MS. 274/4.
On loft is ryssyn the gret illumynar The lampe that lichtnes euery regioun Ib. 281/87.
O Mary … I beseik thæ that with thy brichtest face thou lichtin me on my latter day 1551 Hamilton Cat. 161. a1568 Bann MS. 30 b/18.
Our dirk orisoun … Is lychnyt now with licht of euery licht a1586 Lindsay MS. 38.
Representand the lycht to lychtting and confort folkis that ar in myrknes a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 302.

b. fig. To illuminate spiritually or intellectually; to shed spiritual light upon; to enlighten. 1456 Hay I. 27/15.
Rycht as the Pape, gif he be a gude haly man as he aw to be, lichtnis all the lave of the Cristin faith, sa dois the sonne all the warld c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebrews x. 32.
And haue ye mynde on the formare dais, in quhilkis ye war lichtnit 1562-3 Winȝet II. 77/29.
Sanct Xistus, the Pape quha now rycht wirschepful lychtnis the Roman Kirk 1567 G. Ball. 146. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 3.
Lichten & instruct me be ȝour guid inspirations Ib. 69.
The declaration … of this wordis lichtens [L. illuminat] … the lytil anes 1622-6 Bisset II. 355/9.
These thingis Agbarus wrait … beand a littill lychtned frome aboueabsol. 1568 Lyndesay Pref.
[He] sall strenthin with His Spirit, lychtin with the pure word of His euangel

c. To provide light for (a person's eye or vision). 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 140.
As the licht of the sone quhairby the eie is lichnit takis not from the eyne the pouar … of seing

2. intr. To shine, emit light; also fig. c1420 Wynt. v. 4900 (W).
Efter that, quhen Cristin fay Lichtnyt than in treuth verray c1590 Fowler I. 113/22.
These two [sc. Virgil and Cicero] be thame, Which wer the eyes of Latine toung, hes lightned muche the same

b. To flash lightning. 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 80.
The flambe of fyreflaucht lychtnyt heir and thar