04/12/2024
In our most recent class a question came up. What is the difference between descend and alight? And what does ALIGHT mean anyway?
Here is the passage in question: "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him." Matthew 3:16.
In this sentence descend means the dove moved downward from a higher to a lower level. Alight means the dove landed on Jesus. Luke 3:22 says is simpler: "...the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove."
At the time of our class discussion, I could not pull from the corners of my brain the other meanings of alight. Alas, here they are with example sentences. Enjoy!
1.
If something is alight, it is burning.
Several buildings were set alight.
A cigarette set the dry grass alight.
The fires had to be kept alight each night.
2.
To bring light to something
As her torch toured the room it alighted on an extraordinary sight.
3.
If someone's eyes are alight or if their face is alight, the expression in their eyes or on their face shows that they are feeling a strong emotion such as excitement or happiness.
She paused and turned, her face alight with happiness.
The children’s faces were alight with enthusiasm.
4.
If a bird or insect alights somewhere, it lands there.
A thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree.
A butterfly fluttered by and alighted on a rose.
Synonyms: land, light, settle, come down
5.
When you alight from a train, bus, or other vehicle, you get out of it after a trip.
Do not alight from a moving bus.
6.
to see, notice, or think of something, especially by chance
Her eyes suddenly alighted on the bundle of documents.
Her eyes alighted on a strange man in the crowd.
Eventually, we alighted on the idea of seeking sponsorship.
A popular speaker is one who easily alights upon topics that interest a wide audience.
