brighten : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: brighten	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for brighten
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
brighten v make lighter or brighter; "The paint will brighten the room" Synonym(s): brighten, lighten up, lighten Antonym(s): darken become clear; "The sky cleared after the storm" Synonym(s): clear up, clear, light up, brighten Antonym(s): cloud, overcast
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Brighten \Bright"en\, v. i. [AS. beorhtan.] To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up; to become bright or cheerful. And night shall brighten into day. --N. Cotton. And, all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere world be past. --Goldsmith.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Brighten \Bright"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Brightened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Brightening}.] Note: [From {Bright}, a.] 1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to. 2. To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to. The present queen would brighten her character, if she would exert her authority to instill virtues into her people. --Swift. 3. To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's prospects. An ecstasy, which mothers only feel, Plays round my heart and brightens all my sorrow. --Philips. 4. To make acute or witty; to enliven. --Johnson.