Brighten

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈbɹaɪtən/

Definitions

1. To make something more luminous or filled with light ; to improve the appearance or mood by adding cheerfulness or positivity ; to enhance or clarify a situation or feeling
2. To increase the amount of light on an object or area ; to cause a person's expression or surroundings to become more cheerful ; to bring more clarity or hopefulness to circumstances
3. To cause something to shine more or become lighter in color ; to lift someone's spirits or mood ; to make conditions or prospects more promising or joyful

Etymology: "Brighten" is a plain formation: the adjective "bright" with the suffix "-en," which turns an adjective into a verb meaning "become or make [the quality]," as in "soften," "harden," and "sadden." The adjective itself goes back to Old English "beorht," meaning shining or clear, which descends from a Proto-Germanic form "berhtaz" and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shine" or "to be white." That ancient sense of brilliance survives in the verb's plain meaning. The verb took its shape in a northern dialect. Old English "beorht" gained a verb-forming ending "-nian" in Northumbrian, producing "berhtnian," and this passed into Northern Middle English as "brightin." From there it developed into the modern "brighten," so the "-en" we see today is the same suffix that works in "sadden" and "lighten," though "brighten" came into standard use through that northern route rather than through the southern dialects.

Synonyms: illuminate, lighten, enhance

Antonyms: darken, diminish