lit

Synonyms

lighted luminous alight illuminated inlighted lighty lit up aglow beamful beamsome beamy brilliant effulgent glowing illuminating lambent lucent luciferous lucific luminant literature well-lighted

Etymology

Alteration of earlier light, from Middle English lighte, from Old English līhtte, first and third person singular preterite of līhtan (“to light”), by analogy with bit. More at light; compare fit (“fought”).
This form was proscribed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with lighted being preferred, but is now the most common past form of light.

From Middle English lit, lut, from Old English lȳt (“little, few”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtilaz (“little, small”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to cower, hunch over”). Cognate with Old Saxon lut (“little”), Middle High German lützen (“to make small or low, decrease”). More at little.

From Middle English lit, from Old Norse litr (“colour, dye, complexion, face, countenance”), from Proto-Germanic *wlitiz, *wlitaz (“sight, face”), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to see”). Cognate with Icelandic litur (“colour”), Old English wlite (“brightness, appearance, form, aspect, look, countenance, beauty, splendor, adornment”), Old English wlītan (“to gaze, look, observe”).

From Middle English litten, liten, from Old Norse lita (“to colour”), from litr (“colour”). See above.