gaslight meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

gaslight

noun

UK /ˈɡæslaɪt/ · US /ˈɡæsˌlaɪt/

Etymology From gas (“flammable gaseous hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture used as a fuel”) + light.

Historical A lamp which operates by burning piped illuminating gas (or town gas).

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”, in Wylder’s Hand: […] (Select Library of Fiction; 178), new edition, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 118:
Open the windows once in awhile^([sic]) and give the air a chance to circulate in and out. In the evening, do not forget that the lamps and gaslights are using up a goodly supply of oxygen also—so freshen things up a little, once in awhile.1904, Yogi Ramacharaka [pseudonym; William Walker Atkinson], “Fresh Air”, in Hatha Yoga: Or The Yogi Philosophy of Physical Well-being […], Chicago, Ill.: Yogi Publication Society […], →OCLC, page 222:

Historical The light produced by the burning gas in such a lamp.

A year since I strained my eyes very severely, and have never dared to use them much since by gaslight.1887, Horatio Alger, Jr., “An Unexpected Engagement”, in Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy (The Alger Series for Boys), New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt, →OCLC, page 86:
Then as the darkness descended, they began to shine with the mellow radiance of gaslight.1953 April, Henry Maxwell, “Abandoned Railway Stations”, in Railway Magazine, page 270:

Derived terms: gaslight romance
Related terms: gaslighter, gas lighter, gas-lighter, gaslighting, gas lighting, gas-lighting, gaslit, gas mantle
Hypernyms: lamp, light

gaslight

verb

Etymology From the 1938 stage play Gas Light by the English playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton (1904–1962), and its 1940 and 1944 film adaptations, in which a husband attempts to convince his wife and others that she is insane by manipulating small elements of their environment. For more details, see also Gaslighting § Etymology on Wikipedia.

Formal, Historical To manipulate someone such that they doubt their own memory, perceptions of reality, or sanity, typically for malevolent reasons.

Strictly; prescriptive; strictly; prescriptive

Sylvia is a beautiful woman whose business-partner husband is "gaslighting" her. (That means he's trying to drive her crazy.)1962, "The Journal Pre-Views Tonight's TV." Jersey Journal [Jersey City, NJ]. February 12, 1962: 12 col 6, describing the plot of the episode "Who Is Sylvia" of the television show Surfside 6
[The men of McHale's Navy] decide to "gaslight" the already befuddled captain, to convince him he is going insane.1963, "TV Scout." Daily Press [Utica, NY]. November 18, 1963: 24 col 2, describing the plot of the episode "The August Teahouse of Quint McHale" of McHale's Navy

4 more examples

"You're gaslighting me, for chrissakes."1964, in an argument between the characters Jenny and Charley in William Goldman's novel Boys and Girls Together, page 564
1967, Stan Freberg (comedian), on his "most excruciating experience with a producer" as interviewed in Humphrey, Hal. "'Dramatic' Role Played By Freberg." The Oregonian [Portland, OR]. February 11, 1967: II 3 col 3. I came home before he could gaslight me like Boyer did Bergman in the movie.
Just in the nick of time Rachel finds out the truth about her life from Martha. … This is how I wanted to show the gaslighting that had been going on Rachel's entire life.2016, Tate Taylor (movie director), in the commentary version of The Girl on the Train (2016 film), discussing a train scene seventy-six minutes into the movie
In fact, political scholars have written a great deal about Trump's gaslighting of the American people on various fronts. For example, Duca (2016) describes Trump's gaslighting as only beginning when he has initially lied or misled about issues—such as falsely claiming that the United States is the highest-taxed country in the world or that crime is on the rise. As Duca puts it: 'The gaslighting part comes in when the fictions are disputed by the media and Trump doubles down on his lies before painting himself as a victim […]'2021 September 28, Alexander Brown, An Ethics of Political Communication, Routledge, →ISBN:

Broadly, Historical, Informal, Proscribed To deceive, trick, or lie to.

Derived terms: gaslightee, gaslighter, gaslighting, gaslighty
Related terms: DARVO, Kafkatrap, mind game, mindscrew, deceive