Search the Dictionary

To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop; as, a flying bird alights on a tree; snow alights on a roof.

g the driveway at the entrance to any building. It is intended as a shelter for those who alight from vehicles at the door; -- sometimes erroneously called in the United States porte-cochère.

sed by a crocodile. Crocodile bird (Zoöl.), an African plover (Pluvianus ægypticus) which alights upon the crocodile and devours its insect parasites, even entering its open mouth (according to reliable writers) in pursuit of files, etc.; -- called also Nile bird. It is the trochilos of ancient writers. -- Crocodile t…

To alight, or to cause to alight, from a railway train. [Eng.] London Graphic.

To alight from a horse; to descend or get off, as a rider from his beast; as, the troops dismounted.

To set down after conveying; to cause to fall, alight, or reach; to bring to the end of a course; as, he landed the quoit near the stake; to be thrown from a horse and landed in the mud; to land one in difficulties or mistakes.

To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; - - with from, off, on, upon, at, in. When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. Gen. xxiv. 64. Slowly rode across a withered heath, And lighted at a ruined inn. Tennyson.

of Light, to alight. Chaucer.

To alight or settle, as a bird; to sit or roost. Wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. Shak.

imp. & p. p. of Ride, v. i. [Archaic] He rid to the end of the village, where he alighted. Thackeray.

f jesting; indulging in mirth or play; playful; wanton; as, a sportful companion. Down he alights among the sportful herd. Milton.

To sink when on the wing; to alight. And stoop with closing pinions from above. Dryden. Cowering low With blandishment, each bird stooped on his wing. Milton.

Belief; faith; fidelity. Bid her alight And hertroth plight. Shak.