Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LIGHT'EN, v.t.² [li'tn; from light, not heavy; Sax. lihtan.]

1. To make lighter; to reduce in weight; to make less heavy; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.
2. To alleviate; to make less burdensome or afflictive; as, to lighten the cares of life; to lighten the burden of grief.
3. To cheer; to exhilarate. He lightens my humor with his merry jest. – Shak.