{ } v. t. To be or become overripe, as wheat, barley, or hops. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. briht, AS. beorht, briht; akin to OS. berht, OHG. beraht, Icel. bjartr, Goth. baírhts. √94. ] 1. Radiating or reflecting light; shedding or having much light; shining; luminous; not dark. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sun was bright o'erhead. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earth was dark, but the heavens were bright. Drake. [ 1913 Webster ]

The public places were as bright as at noonday. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Transmitting light; clear; transparent. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the brightest wines
He 'd turn abhorrent. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having qualities that render conspicuous or attractive, or that affect the mind as light does the eye; resplendent with charms; as, bright beauty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bright as an angel new-dropped from the sky. Parnell. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having a clear, quick intellect; intelligent. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Sparkling with wit; lively; vivacious; shedding cheerfulness and joy around; cheerful; cheery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be bright and jovial among your guests. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Illustrious; glorious. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the brightest annals of a female reign. Cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Manifest to the mind, as light is to the eyes; clear; evident; plain. [ 1913 Webster ]

That he may with more ease, with brighter evidence, and with surer success, draw the bearner on. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Of brilliant color; of lively hue or appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here the bright crocus and blue violet grew. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Bright is used in composition in the sense of brilliant, clear, sunny, etc.; as, bright-eyed, bright-haired, bright-hued. [ 1913 Webster ]

bright side the positive or favorable aspects of a situation. --
to look on the bright side to focus the attention on favorable aspects of a situation; to minimize attention to possible negative or unfavorable factors in a situation. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Shining; splending; luminous; lustrous; brilliant; resplendent; effulgent; refulgent; radiant; sparkling; glittering; lucid; beamy; clear; transparent; illustrious; witty; clear; vivacious; sunny. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Splendor; brightness. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Brightly. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

I say it is the moon that shines so bright. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. See Brite, v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Brightened p. pr. & vb. n. Brightening. ] [ From Bright, a. ] 1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to. [ 1913 Webster ]

The present queen would brighten her character, if she would exert her authority to instill virtues into her people. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's prospects. [ 1913 Webster ]

An ecstasy, which mothers only feel,
Plays round my heart and brightens all my sorrow. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make acute or witty; to enliven. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ AS. beorhtan. ] To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up; to become bright or cheerful. [ 1913 Webster ]

And night shall brighten into day. N. Cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

And, all his prospects brightening to the last,
His heaven commences ere world be past. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having glittering armor. [ Poetic ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. Brilliantly; splendidly; with luster; as, brightly shining armor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With lively intelligence; intelligently. [ 1913 Webster ]

Looking brightly into the mother's face. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. beorhines. See Bright. ] 1. The quality or state of being bright; splendor; luster; brilliancy; clearness. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sudden brightness in his face appear. Crabbe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Acuteness (of the faculties); sharpness 9wit. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brightness of his parts . . . distinguished him. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Splendor; luster; radiance; resplendence; brilliancy; effulgence; glory; clearness. [ 1913 Webster ]