lightening

English translation: lightning

16:00 Jan 8, 2003

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
History / history

English term or phrase: lightening

Admittedly, peace had been made in 1795 with Prussia and Spain; then Bonaparte’s **lightening** campaign in North Italy forced Austria to sue for peace in its turn.

I think it's a typo for lightning (like "quick"), but I wanted to check with you guys to make sure. Thanks in advance.

Rubén de la Fuente KudoZ activity Questions: 212 (none open) (2 without valid answers) Answers: 144
Local time: 12:22

Selected answer:lightning

Explanation:
quick as a flash!

Definitely a typo

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-01-08 16:05:11 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"Berthier was more than a mere staff officer, he was also a capable fighting general and the organiser of Napoleon\'s lightning campaign in Italy\"

grognard.com/zines/ph/p0706.txt

Selected response from:

Sarah Ponting
Italy
Local time: 12:22

Grading comment

Thanks everybody
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +17

lightning

Sarah Ponting

lightning campaign

David Knowles

Yes, a typo (or, perhaps, a misunderstanding)

Christopher Crockett

Blitz campaign

Autobusek

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +17

lightning

Sarah Ponting
Italy
Local time: 12:22
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks everybody

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Andy Watkinson: Quite right!

1 min

-> thanks

agree

Jeannie Graham

2 mins

-> thanks

agree

Peter Coles

6 mins

-> thanks

agree

vixen: definitely

6 mins

-> thanks

agree

jerrie

11 mins

-> thanks

agree

Anne Lee

11 mins

-> thanks

agree

Marie Scarano

12 mins

-> grazie, Marie

agree

Herman Vilella: No lightening (easing up) whatsoever, I should say.

15 mins

-> nope!

agree

Armorel Young: you're right about the typo - it's lightning as in "thunder and lightning"

18 mins

-> yes, of course it is. Thanks

agree

jccantrell

19 mins

-> thanks

agree

EDLING (X)

28 mins

-> thanks

agree

Johannes Gleim: lightning campaign, is this the same as "Blitzkrieg"?

40 mins

agree

Norbert Hermann: as Johannes pointed out

59 mins

agree

simantov (X): Donner und Blitzen

1 hr

agree

Refugio: I like to make a distinction between misspelling and typo (which is often a euphemism). Lightening is a common misspelling of lightning, due to the fact that it is usually pronounced as three syllables.

3 hrs

-> you're right - the writer was probably worse at spelling than at typing!

agree

airmailrpl

1 day 8 hrs

agree

AhmedAMS

198 days

3 mins confidence:

lightning campaign

Explanation:
see ref.

Reference: http://www.mannerheim.fi/10_ylip/e_2mmsot.htm

David Knowles
Local time: 11:22
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 7

6 mins confidence:

Blitz campaign

Explanation:
a reference to the Blitzkrieg, Hitler invading Poland

Reference: http://www.willy-brandt.org/english/biographie/1939b.html

Autobusek
Germany
Local time: 12:22
Native speaker of:

French

46 mins confidence:

Yes, a typo (or, perhaps, a misunderstanding)

Explanation:
"Lightning" is clearly what is meant here.

"Lightening" is a perfectly good --if somewhat rarely heard-- English word, but its meaning has to do with "making light[er]."

The O.E.D. gives three definitions of it:

--The rendering light or lighter; alleviation (of pain, sorrow); +comforting, cheering.

1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 44 b, He falleth to an amendement and lightening.

1625 Gonsalvio's Sp. Inquis. 80 To relieue his pensiue and heauie heart with some kind of lightning.

1655 Brinsley Groan for Israel 24 The lightning and saving of the Ship.

1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 605 The Frier Rodrigue..carrying 50 [guns], went there without lightening.

1890 Athenæum 6 Dec. 769/1 The volumes, which would seem to need no lightening, are further brightened by some amusing letters.

--The shedding or shining of light; suffusion with light, lighting up; fig. enlightenment, illumination.

1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 74 Grace is an illumynacyon or lyghtnynge of the soule.

1667 Milton P.L. v. 734 The Son with calm aspect and cleer Light'ning Divine.

1814 Scott Fam. Lett. (1894) I. x. 318 A lightening in the domestic horizon.

1864 Swinburne Atalanta 1448 This lightening of clear weather.

1873 Miss Broughton Nancy III. 228 A kindling of the eye, and godly lightening of all her gentle face.

b.

a lightening before death: that exhilaration or revival of the spirits which is supposed to occur in some instances just before death.

Cf. `a glimmering before death' (Fletcher Sp. Curate, iv. v.).

1592 Shaks. Rom. & Jul; v. iii. 90 How oft when men are at the point of death, Haue they beene merrie? Which their Keepers call A lightning before death.

1641 Brome Joviall Crew v. Wks. 1873 III. 441 If it be a lightning before death, the best is, I am his heir.

1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. viii. 125 Not that I Lightning or fell Thunder feare, (Unless that Lightning before death appear).

1712 Addison Spect. No. 517 P2 We were once in great Hopes of his Recovery..but this only proved a Light'ning before Death.

1840 Hood Up Rhine 7 The old saying about a lightening before death.

c. attrib.: lightening-column, ? nonce-wd., a beacon-pillar (fig.).

1767 S. Paterson Another Trav. I. 413 The first emporium of commerce-the lightening-column of navigation to all the world.

--That lightens, shines, flashes, etc.

1592 Constable Poems (1859) 1 As my heart shall aye remaine A patient object to thy lightning eyes.

1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 121 Alexander..who like a lightening thunder leaped into diuers parts.

1609 Daniel Civ. Wars vii. xciv. 197 This..Queene; Whose Victories..Haue but as onely lightning motions beene Before the ruine that ensu'd thereon. [Cf. lightening vbl. sb.2 b.]

1694 Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 317/1 Aurum Fulminans: Lightning or Thundering Gold.

1877 L. Morris Epic Hades iii. 48 As I went Across the lightening fields.

"Lightning war" occurs in 1940, just a translation of the German :

E. C. Shepherd Britain's Air Power 5 In the German `Lightning War' on Poland the aeroplane was used to the full as an offensive weapon.

Christopher Crockett
Local time: 06:22
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations