Definition of ancient lights in English:

plural noun

• treated as singular The right of access to light of a property, established by custom and used to prevent the construction of buildings on adjacent property which would obstruct such access.

  Example sentences

  • ‘The very settled approach in the United States is to reject such claims (England has a doctrine of ancient lights which was firmly rejected here).’
  • ‘Tom associates England with ‘ancient lights’, a phrase that for him resonates with the mythic and the mystic.’
  • ‘On the other hand, the Court ought to be very careful not to allow an action for the protection of ancient lights to be used as a means of extorting money.’
  • ‘Thus, it is regarded from this account that the first lightstructures could be described as ` fire-towers’ and, indeed, many ancient lights are referred to with this term.’