Levity - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: Levity

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

lev·i·ty

Audio Help [lev-i-tee] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural -ties.

1.	lightness of mind, character, or behavior; lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness.

2.	an instance or exhibition of this.

3.	fickleness.

4.	lightness in weight.

[Origin: 1555–65; < L levitās lightness, frivolity, equiv. to levi(s) light + -tās -ty²

]

—Synonyms 1, 2. frivolity, flippancy, triviality, giddiness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Levity

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

lev·i·ty Audio Help (lěv'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. lev·i·ties

Lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate; frivolity.
Inconstancy; changeableness.
The state or quality of being light; buoyancy.

[Latin levitās, from levis, light; see leg^wh- in Indo-European roots.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
levity

1564, from L. levitas (gen. levitatis) "lightness, frivolity," from levis "light" in weight (see lever).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

levity
noun
1.	feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness [ant: gravity]
2.	a manner lacking seriousness

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Levity

Al*le"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alleviating.] [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad + levis light. See Alegge, Levity.]

1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.]

Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense. --Evelyn.

Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. --Ray.

2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.

The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters. --Bp. Horsley.

3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]

He alleviates his fault by an excuse. --Johnson.

Syn: To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve; nullify; allay.

Usage: To Alleviate, Mitigate, Assuage, Allay. These words have in common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image under which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day Archive - Cite This Source - Share This

levity

levity was Word of the Day on December 18, 1999.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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