a lightとは

意味・読み方・使い方

語源 1

From Middle English alighten, from a merger of 古期英語 ālīhtan (“to alight, dismount”), from prefix ā- (compare Gothic ����- (us-), German er- originally meaning "out") + līhtan (“to alight”); and 古期英語 ġelīhtan (“to alight, approach, come, come down, dismount”); equivalent to a- +‎ light (“to dismount”).

Passengers can only alight from buses at an alighting point, and cannot board them.

動詞

alight (三人称単数 現在形 alights, 現在分詞 alighting, 過去形および過去分詞形 alighted または alit)

1. (intransitive, with from) To get off or exit a vehicle or animal; to descend; to dismount.

   He alighted from his horse.

   Passengers are alighting from the carriage.

2. (intransitive, with on または at) To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop.

   A flying bird alights on a tree.

   Snow alights on a roof.

   • 1886-88, Richard F. Burton, The Supplemental Nights to the Thousand Nights and a Night:

     Now when he had reached the King's capital wherein was Alaeddin, he alighted at one of the Kháns; and, when he had rested from the weariness of wayfare, he donned his dress and went down to wander about the streets, where he never passed a group without hearing them prate about the pavilion and its grandeur and vaunt the beauty of Alaeddin and his lovesomeness, his liberality and generosity, his fine manners and his good morals.

   • 1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: A Surprise at Didcot”, in Railway Magazine, page 452:

     Dashing back to my compartment, I grabbed my impedimenta - what my companion thought of the maniac who alighted at a station only half-way to the first booked stop I don't know ! - got out, hurried under the subway, and was into my 10.45 comfortably before its departure.

   • 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 25:

     In 1851 the Great Northern Railway had reached London and began operating into a terminus at Maiden Lane, just north of the New Road [later renamed Euston Road]. In 1854 they moved up to the New Road itself, with the opening of King's Cross station, east of Euston. The railways were alighting on the New Road like birds perching on a branch (the Midland Railway would open St Pancras, between Euston かつ King's Cross in 1868), and Pearson took note.

3. (intransitive, followed by upon) To find by accident; to come upon.
4. (intransitive) To befall or betide.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.iii:

     His fearefull friends weare out the wofull night, / Ne dare to weepe, nor seeme to vnderstand / The heauie hap, which on them is alight, / Affraid, least to themselues the like mishappen might.

同意語

• unlight

語源 2

From Middle English alighten, from a merger of 古期英語 ālīhtan (“to lighten, relieve, alleviate, take off, take away, alight”) and 古期英語 ġelīhtan (“to lighten, mitigate, assuage”); equivalent to a- +‎ light.

動詞

alight (三人称単数 現在形 alights, 現在分詞 alighting, 過去形および過去分詞形 alighted)

1. (transitive) To make light or less heavy; lighten; alleviate.

語源 3

From Middle English alighten, from 古期英語 ālīhtan (“to light up, enlighten”); equivalent to a- +‎ light. Cognate with German erleuchten (“to light up, illuminate”).

動詞

alight (三人称単数 現在形 alights, 現在分詞 alighting, 過去形および過去分詞形 alit または alighted)

1. (transitive) To light; light up; illuminate.
2. (transitive) To set light to; light.

語源 4

From Middle English alight, from 古期英語 *ālīhted, past participle of ālīhtan (“to alight”); see above.

別の表記

• alighted

形容詞

alight (not comparable)

1. Lit, on fire, switched on.

   The sticks were damp and wouldn't catch alight.

   • 1961 February, "Balmore", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives - Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 110:

     With a heavy load of 650 tons for Arras and Lille we started very quietly, with about a third of a glass of water, and the fire barely alight. This frightened me, but I had reckoned without the 4-6-4's American mechanical stoker.

2. (figuratively) Lit; on fire, burning.

   Her face was alight with happiness.

使用する際の注意点

Used only as a predicative.