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Come to light   /kəm tu laɪt/   Listen
noun
Light  n.  
1.
That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous. Note: 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 (but long since abandoned), 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." "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night."
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."
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."
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."
6.
Life; existence. "O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born!"
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."
8.
The power of perception by vision. "My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me."
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."
10.
Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity. "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily."
11.
(Paint.) The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro.
12.
Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put them in the right light. "Frequent consideration of a thing... shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance."
13.
One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity. "Joan of Arc, A light of ancient France."
14.
(Pyrotech.) A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light. Note: Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind.
Ancient lights (Law), Calcium light, Flash light, etc. See under Ancient, Calcium, etc.
Light ball (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to afford light; sometimes made so as to be fired from a cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket.
Light barrel (Mil.), an empty power barrel pierced with holes and filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to light up a ditch or a breach.
Light dues (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses.
Light iron, a candlestick. (Obs.)
Light keeper, a person appointed to take care of a lighthouse or light-ship.
Light money, charges laid by government on shipping entering a port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and light-ships.
The light of the countenance, favor; kindness; smiles. "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."
Northern lights. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora.
To bring to light, to cause to be disclosed.
To come to light, to be disclosed.
To see the light, to come into the light; hence, to come into the world or into public notice; as, his book never saw the light.
To stand in one's own light, to take a position which is injurious to one's own interest.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Come to light" Quotes from Famous Books



... since all people have their eyes conject upon princes, whose acts and doings not only be observed in the mouths of them that now do live, but also remain in such perpetual memory to our posterity [so that] the evil, if any there be, cannot but appear and come to light, there is no reason for toleration, no place for dissimulation; but [there is reason] more deeply, highly, and profoundly to penetrate and search for the truth, so that the same may vanquish and overcome, and all guilt, craft, and falsehood clearly ...
— The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3) • James Anthony Froude
... wooed, won, and married, the present Mrs. Bullfrog, all in the space of a fortnight. Owing to these extempore measures, I not only gave my bride credit for certain perfections which have not as yet come to light, but also overlooked a few trifling defects, which, however, glimmered on my perception long before the close of the honeymoon. Yet, as there was no mistake about the fundamental principle aforesaid, I soon learned, as will ...
— Mosses from an Old Manse and Other Stories • Nathaniel Hawthorne
... ennobled a man of less genius than Holbein in the eyes of his fellow-citizens; and rightly. But as to the exact locality in which Holbein set up his first married roof-tree—that Bethel of sacred or saddest dreams—no documentary evidence has yet come to light. Circumstantial evidence, however, amounts to a strong probability in favour of ...
— Holbein • Beatrice Fortescue
... too, and were not unduly alarmed at the implied threat. But there was a quality in their mother's displeasure, rare as it was, which made them apprehensive when one of their periodical outbursts had come to light. They were not old enough to perceive that it was not aroused by such feats as the one under discussion, which showed no moral delinquency, but only a certain danger to life and limb, now past. But their experience did tell them that misbehaviour which caused her displeasure was not thus ...
— The Squire's Daughter - Being the First Book in the Chronicles of the Clintons • Archibald Marshall
... the magnitude of the fault, it might have been considered that adequate retribution had been inflicted on him. But the consequences of the actions of men live when the actions are themselves forgotten, and come to light without regard to the fitness of the moment. The senators of Rome were responsible for the exactions which Ptolemy Auletes had been compelled to wring out of his subjects. Pompey himself had entertained and supported him ...
— Caesar: A Sketch • James Anthony Froude


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