English

light up

To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten.

    Etymology graph

    • inherited
    • borrowed
    • derived
    • parts
    • meaning component
    • sound component
    • related
    React Flow

    Click a node to zoom in · double-click to open it

    Origin

    Etymology 1

    Phrasal verb from light (“to make bright, ignite”, verb) + up (“to a higher degree”, adverb).

    Etymology 2

    Phrasal verb from light (“to make less heavy”, verb) + up (“to a higher degree”, adverb).

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • partEnglishlight “Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometer…”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishlight
        • inheritedOld Englishlēoht “luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent, renowned, beautiful”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishlighten
        • inheritedOld Englishlīehtan “to light, to shine”
        • inheritedOld Englishlīhtan “to relieve”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishliȝt
        • inheritedOld Englishlēht
    • partEnglishup “Away from the surface of the Earth or other planet; in opposite direction to the downward pull of g…”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishup
        • inheritedOld Englishupp “up”

    Sources