The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Weight \Weight\, n. [OE. weght, wight, AS. gewiht; akin to D.
gewigt, G. gewicht, Icel. v[ae]tt, Sw. vigt, Dan. v[ae]gt.
See Weigh, v. t.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by
which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect
of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain
units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Weight differs from gravity in being the effect of
gravity, or the downward pressure of a body under the
influence of gravity; hence, it constitutes a measure
of the force of gravity, and being the resultant of all
the forces exerted by gravity upon the different
particles of the body, it is proportional to the
quantity of matter in the body.
[1913 Webster]
2. The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the
center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated
by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to
some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight
of five hundred pounds.
[1913 Webster]
For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell,
Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or
business. "The weight of this said time." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
For the public all this weight he bears. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
[He] who singly bore the world's sad weight.
--Keble.
[1913 Webster]
4. Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence;
moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast
weight.
[1913 Webster]
In such a point of weight, so near mine honor.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of
estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight;
apothecaries' weight.
[1913 Webster]
6. A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a
paper weight.
[1913 Webster]
A man leapeth better with weights in his hands.
--Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
7. A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to
be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as,
an ounce weight.
[1913 Webster]
8. (Mech.) The resistance against which a machine acts, as
opposed to the power which moves it. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Atomic weight. (Chem.) See under Atomic, and cf.
Element.
Dead weight, Feather weight, Heavy weight, Light
weight, etc. See under Dead, Feather, etc.
Weight of observation (Astron. & Physics), a number
expressing the most probable relative value of each
observation in determining the result of a series of
observations of the same kind.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Ponderousness; gravity; heaviness; pressure; burden;
load; importance; power; influence; efficacy;
consequence; moment; impressiveness.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Heavy \Heav"y\, a. [Compar. Heavier; superl. Heaviest.] [OE.
hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG.
hebig, hevig, Icel. h["o]figr, h["o]fugr. See Heave.]
1. Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty;
ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in
extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or
snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.;
often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also,
difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.
[1913 Webster]
2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure
or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy
yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
[1913 Webster]
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod.
--1 Sam. v. 6.
[1913 Webster]
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Sent hither to impart the heavy news. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened;
bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care,
grief, pain, disappointment.
[1913 Webster]
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were.
--Chapman.
[1913 Webster]
A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate,
stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the
like; a heavy writer or book.
[1913 Webster]
Whilst the heavy plowman snores. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear.
--Is. lix. 1.
[1913 Webster]
5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm,
cannonade, and the like.
[1913 Webster]
6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
[1913 Webster]
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.
--Byron.
[1913 Webster]
7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the
sky.
[1913 Webster]
8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a
heavy road, soil, and the like.
[1913 Webster]
9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.
[1913 Webster]
10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not
easily digested; -- said of food.
[1913 Webster]
11. Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other
liquors.
[1913 Webster]
12. With child; pregnant. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
Heavy artillery. (Mil.)
(a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp. siege,
garrison, and seacoast guns.
(b) Troops which serve heavy guns.
Heavy cavalry. See under Cavalry.
Heavy fire (Mil.), a continuous or destructive cannonading,
or discharge of small arms.
Heavy metal (Mil.), large guns carrying balls of a large
size; also, large balls for such guns.
Heavy metals. (Chem.) See under Metal.
Heavy weight, in wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to
the heaviest of the classes into which contestants are
divided. Cf. Feather weight
(c), under Feather.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Heavy is used in composition to form many words which
need no special explanation; as, heavy-built,
heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc.
[1913 Webster]