To make something less heavy or less dark, or to make a burden or mood feel easier.
From Old English 'leohtan,' derived from 'leoht' (light). The word has two main paths: 'lighten' as in reduce weight and 'lighten' as in increase brightness, both stemming from the same Germanic root.
English has this wonderful efficiency where one word does double duty—'lighten' works for both physical weight and emotional heaviness. Shakespeare used it metaphorically in plays to describe relief from sorrow, and we still do today!
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