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lichten

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈlɪx.tən/
  • Rhymes: -ɪxtən
  • Audio:(file)

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch lichten, from Old Dutch *līhten, from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄htijan, from Proto-Germanic *linhtijaną.

Verb

lichten

  1. to raise, to lift up
  2. to empty out
Conjugation
More information Conjugation of (weak), infinitive ...
Descendants
  • Afrikaans: lig
  • → Papiamentu: lektu

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch lichten, from Old Dutch *liehton, from Proto-West Germanic *leuhtōn. By surface analysis, licht +‎ -en.

Verb

lichten

  1. to illuminate, shine light
    Een lichtend voorbeeld voor de mensheid. ― A shining example for humanity.
Conjugation
More information Conjugation of (weak), infinitive ...

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

lichten

  1. plural of licht
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German

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Derived from the adjective licht (“light; bright”) and/or the noun Licht (“light”). Compare Hunsrik leichte.

Verb

lichten (weak, third-person singular present lichtet, past tense lichtete, past participle gelichtet, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to thin out; to clear; to make sparse
    Die Soldaten lichteten den Wald, um ihn für schweres Gerät durchgängig zu machen.
    The soldiers thinned out the forest in order to make it passable for heavy equipment.
  2. (reflexive) to thin out; to be cleared; to become sparse (usually slowly)
    Die Zuschauerränge lichteten sich.
    The spectator seats were gradually cleared.
  3. (reflexive, literary) to become light, bright (usually slowly)
    Der Himmel lichtete sich.
    The sky became light.
  4. (reflexive, literary, of facial expression) to become bright; to lose sternness
    Ihr Blick lichtete sich.
    Her look became bright.
Conjugation
Conjugation of lichten (weak, auxiliary haben)
More information infinitive, present participle ...

1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.

Composed forms of lichten (weak, auxiliary haben)
More information perfect, singular ...
Derived terms
  • ablichten
  • auslichten

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Middle Low German lichten, originally “to make light”, derived from licht (“light; not heavy”). After the Low German development -ft- → -cht- (compare Nichte), the verb was merged with, or at least influenced by, unrelated lüchten (“to lift”), from Proto-Germanic *luftijaną, whence also English lift. Compare Dutch lichten.

Verb

lichten (weak, third-person singular present lichtet, past tense lichtete, past participle gelichtet, auxiliary haben)

  1. (nautical) to weigh (the anchor)
Conjugation
Conjugation of lichten (weak, auxiliary haben)
More information infinitive, present participle ...

1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.

Composed forms of lichten (weak, auxiliary haben)
More information perfect, singular ...

Further reading

  • “lichten” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “lichten” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • “lichten” in Duden online
  • “lichten” in OpenThesaurus.de
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