Chapter Lifespring to Light of L by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. A baited line attached to a float, for night fishing. See Leger, a.

2. See Ledger, 2.

Light
(Light) n. [OE. light, liht, AS. leóht; akin to OS. lioht, D. & G. licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuhaþ, Icel. ljos, L. lux light, lucere to shine, Gr. leyko`s white, Skr. ruc to shine. &radic122. Cf. Lucid, Lunar, Luminous, Lynx.]

1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.

Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles per second; but it is now generally understood to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by Newton as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory of light.

2. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in.

Acts xvi. 29.

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.

Gen. i. 16.

3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.

The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy.

Job xxiv. 14.

4. The brightness of the eye or eyes.

He seemed to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' door he went without their helps,
And, to the last, bended their light on me.

Shak.

5. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.

There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.

I Kings vii.4.

6. Life; existence.

O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born!

Pope.

7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.

The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light.

Shak.

8. The power of perception by vision.

My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.

Ps. xxxviii. 10.

9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.

He shall never know
That I had any light of this from thee.

Shak.