Origin and history of lighting

"brightness, radiant energy, that which makes things visible," Old English leht (Anglian), leoht (West Saxon), "light, daylight; spiritual illumination," from Proto-Germanic *leukhtam (source also of Old Saxon lioht, Old Frisian liacht, Middle Dutch lucht, Dutch licht, Old High German lioht, German Licht, Gothic liuhaþ "light"), from PIE root *leuk- "light, brightness."

The -gh- was an Anglo-French scribal attempt to render the Germanic hard -h- sound, which has since disappeared from this word.

The meaning "something used for igniting" is from 1680s. The sense of "a consideration which puts something in a certain view" (as in in light of) is from 1680s. As short for traffic light from 1938.

The figurative spiritual sense was in Old English; the sense of "mental illumination" is recorded by mid-15c. Quaker use is by 1650s; New Light/Old Light in church doctrine also is from 1650s.

Omnia, quae sunt, lumina sunt [Scotus Erigena (810?-877?) "All things that are, are light"]

The meaning "person eminent or conspicuous" is from 1590s. A source of joy or delight has been the light of (someone's) eyes since Old English:

Ðu eart dohtor min, minra eagna leoht [Juliana].

Phrases such as according to (one's) lights "to the best of one's natural or acquired capacities" preserve an older sense attested from 1520s. To figuratively stand in (someone's) light is from late 14c. To see the light "come into the world" is from 1680s; later as "come to full realization" (1812). The rock concert light-show is from 1966. To be out like a light "suddenly or completely unconscious" is from 1934.

"to shed light; set on fire," Middle English lighten, from late Old English lihtan (Anglian), liehtan (West Saxon), originally transitive, "ignite, set on fire," also in a spiritual sense, "illuminate, fill with brightness." It is common Germanic (cognates: Old Saxon liohtian, Old High German liuhtan, German leuchten, Gothic liuhtjan "to light"), from the source of light (n.).

The meaning "furnish light for" is from c. 1200; the sense of "emit light, shed light, shine" is from c. 1300.

Words in IE language for "begin a fire" are mostly connected with words for "burn," "blaze," "flame" (Balto-Slavic, etc.). Latin accendere (source of Spanish encender) is from candere "to shine"). But some mean "make light," or are extended from words for "grasp, seize" (English catch fire; Greek aptō "fasten, join, attach, grasp, touch," also "light, kindle, set on fire, catch on fire").

Buck writes that English light is "much more common than kindle even with fire, and only light, not kindle, with candle, lamp, pipe, etc."

To light up is from c. 1200 as "give light to" (a room, etc.); 1861 in reference to a pipe, cigar, etc. Related: Lighted; lighting.