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bright (adj.)

"radiating or reflecting light," Old English bryht, metathesis of beorht "bright; splendid; clear-sounding; beautiful; divine," from Proto-Germanic *berhtaz "bright" (source also of Old Saxon berht, Old Norse bjartr, Old High German beraht, Gothic bairhts "bright"), from PIE root *bhereg- "to shine; bright, white." Meaning "quick-witted, having brilliant mental qualities" is from 1741.

The Germanic word was commonly used to form given names, and figures in the etymology of Robert, Albert, Bertha, Egbert, Gilbert, Herbert, Hubert, Lambert. In modern German it survives in names only (Albrecht, Ruprecht) and has been otherwise lost.

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Definitions of bright from WordNet
1
bright (adj.)
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts;
the sun was bright and hot
a bright sunlit room
bright (adj.)
having strong or striking color;
bright dress
Synonyms: brilliant / vivid
bright (adj.)
characterized by quickness and ease in learning;
Synonyms: smart
bright (adj.)
having lots of light either natural or artificial;
the room was bright and airy
a stage bright with spotlights
bright (adj.)
made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow;
bright silver candlesticks
Synonyms: burnished / lustrous / shining / shiny
bright (adj.)
splendid;
the bright pageantry of court
the bright stars of stage and screen
a bright moment in history
bright (adj.)
clear and sharp and ringing;
the bright sound of the trumpet section
Synonyms: brilliant
bright (adj.)
characterized by happiness or gladness;
bright faces
all the world seems bright and gay
bright (adj.)
likely to turn out well in the future;
had a bright future in publishing
Synonyms: hopeful / promising
bright (adj.)
not made dim or less bright;
Synonyms: undimmed
2
bright (adv.)
with brightness;
the windows glowed jewel bright
Synonyms: brilliantly / brightly
From wordnet.princeton.edu