slight
Noun · Verb · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Noun (1)
- a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)Synonyms: rebuffType of discourtesy, offenseKinds snub, silent treatment
Verb (1)slighted, slighting
- pay no attention to, disrespect“She cold-shouldered her ex-fiance”Synonyms: cold-shoulderMore general dismiss, disregard
Adjective (3)slightest
- (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with ‘a’) at least some“little rain fell in May”“gave it little thought”“little time is left”“we still have little money”“a little hope remained”“there's slight chance that it will work”“there's a slight chance it will work”Synonyms: littleSimilar smallSee also less
- lacking substance or significance“slight evidence”“a tenuous argument”“a thin plot”“a fragile claim to fame”Synonyms: flimsyfragiletenuousthinOpposite importantSimilar insignificant, unimportant
- being of delicate or slender build“she was slender as a willow shoot is slender — Frank Norris”“a slim girl with straight blonde hair”“watched her slight figure cross the street”Synonyms: slenderslimsvelteOpposite fatSimilar thin, leanSee also slim thick
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Adjective small in amount, insignificant
- Spanish
- insignificante
- French
- léger
- German
- geringfügig
- Italian
- leggero
- Turkish
- hafif
- Russian
- незначи́тельный neznačítelʹnyj
- Swedish
- obetydlig
- Hungarian
- jelentéktelen
- Esperanto
- eta
- Finnish
- vähäinen
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Sleight. Edmund Spenser
Origin: Cf. D. slechten to level, to demolish.
1. To overthrow; to demolish. obsolete Edward Hyde, first earl of Clarendon
2. To make even or level. obsolete Henry. Hexham
3. To throw heedlessly. obsolete
The rogue slighted me into the river.— William Shakespeare
Origin: OE. sli…t, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. sl…ttr smooth, Sw. slät, Goth. slaíhts; or uncertain origin.
1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe; weak; gentle; — applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable) structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain, and the like. “At one slight bound.” John Milton
Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.— Alexander Pope
Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.— John Locke
2. Not stout or heavy; slender.
His own figure, which was formerly so slight.— Sir Walter Scott
3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.
To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. John Milton
The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies.— William Cowper
To slight off, to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. rare — To slight over, to run over in haste; to perform superficially; to treat carelessly; as, to slight over a theme. “They will but slight it over.” Francis, Baron Verulam Bacon
Synonyms: To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. — Slight, Neglect. To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsiderateness, or from being over-occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer.
Beware... lest the like befall... If they transgress and slight that sole command.— John Milton
This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste.— John Milton
The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity.
Synonyms: Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement.
Slightly. Obs. or Poetic
Think not so slight of glory.— John Milton
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54