gaslight

Formsgaslights, gaslighting, gaslighted

Pluralgaslights

1. 1
   verbformalhistoricaltransitive

   To trick someone into doubting their memory, what is real, or their own mind, usually to harm them.

   He was gaslighting his sister by telling her she had imagined the whole fight.

   "You're gaslighting me, for chrissakes."

   1964, in an argument between the characters Jenny and Charley in William Goldman's novel Boys and Girls TogetherHere, gaslighting means tricking someone into doubting their own memory or sense of reality.

   Similarmanipulate

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2. 2
   verbhistoricaltransitive

   To trick someone or tell them lies.

   The photo on the box totally gaslit me, the toy is tiny.

   Don't let the ad gaslight you, those shoes are not really on sale.

   Similardeceive, trick, fool, dupe

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3. 3
   nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable

   A lamp that gives light by burning gas that comes through pipes.

   A gaslight lit the corner of the narrow street.

   He was renovated and refreshed, his soul was strengthened, and his countenance waxed cheerful, and he began to feel like himself again, under the brown canopy of metropolitan smoke, and among the cabs and gaslights.

   [1871], J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “Captain Lake Looks in at Nightfall”Here, gaslights means lamps that burn gas brought in through pipes.

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4. 4
   nounhistoricaluncountable

   The light that comes from a lamp that burns gas.

   It was hard to read by gaslight.

   Then as the darkness descended, they began to shine with the mellow radiance of gaslight.

   1953, Henry Maxwell, “Abandoned Railway Stations”Here, gaslight means the light given off by gas-burning lamps.

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