Light a.1. World English Historical Dictionary

Light a.1. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1903, rev. 2024. Light a.1 Forms: 1 léoht, liht, Northumb. leht, 2–4 liht(e, 3 Orm. lihht, (4 lixt, lyht, lit), 4–5 liȝt(e, lyȝt(e, 4–6 lyght(e, 4–7 Sc. licht, lycht, (5 leyȝt, 6 leicht, lyȝt, lyȝth, liht), 4– light. [OE. léoht, lĭht, Northumb. lĕht = OFris. li(u)cht, OS. *lîht implied in derivatives (Du. licht), OHG. lîht(i (MHG. lîht, mod.G. leicht), ON. léttr (Da. let, Sw. lätt), Goth. leihts:—OTeut. *liŋhto- (-tjo), f. Teut. root *liŋgw:—pre-Teut. *leñghw-, as in Lith. leŋgvas light; the ablaut-var. pre-Teut. *lŋghw-, Teut. *luŋgw-, appears in Skr. laghu, Gr. ἐλαφρός light, ἐλαχύς small, OHG. lungar light; cf. also LUNG.]

1   I.  In the primary physical sense and uses connected therewith.

2   1.  Of little weight, not ponderous. The opposite of heavy. Also in to lie light (cf. HEAVY 1 b, c). Light ice, sails (see quots. 1867).

3 a. 1000.  Riddles, xli. 76 (Gr.). Leohtre ic eom micle þonne þes lytla wyrm.

4 c. 1205.  Lay., 5903. Heore wepnen weoren lihte.

5 1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 152. Was neuere lef vp-on lynde lyghter þer-after.

6 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, III. 85. Gude lycht harnes, fra that tyme, wsyt he euir.

7 14[?].  Promp. Parv., 304/1 (MS. K.) Liht of wyhte, (P.) light of weight or mesure.

8 1534.  Tindale, Matt. xi. 30. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

9 1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 90. Al thair harnesse was lycht.

10 1613.  J. Dennis, Secrets Angling, I. C 2 b. Rods [were made] of lightest Cane and Hazell plant.

11 1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xix. 121. Watches have been made as light and little, as many that wore them make of their time.

12 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., X. 51. How light wou’d lye the Turf upon my Breast, If [etc.].

13 1762.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 97. The lighter sails, for summer winds and seas, Are now dismiss’d.

14 1795.  Burke, Corr., IV. 325. It [wheat] will be very light in the ear.

15 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Light ice, that which has but little depth in the water; it is not considered dangerous to shipping, as not being heavy. Ibid., Light sails, all above the topgallant-sails; also the studding sails and flying jib.

16 1871.  R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, lxiv. 64. Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven.

17   absol.  1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIV. (Percy Soc.), 108. Of the eyen the offyce only is the syght, To se … The whyte, or blacke, the hevy, or the lyght.

18 1659.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. II. 105. Touching judgeth many things, Heavy, Leight, and those that are between them.

19 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 24. The art of weighing, again, has to do with lighter and heavier.

20   Proverb.  1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 151. Light geynes make heuy purses.

21 1775.  S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., cxvi. (1783), IV. 82. He … swore … that I should not leave him till his purse was as light as eleven-pence.

22   b.  Deficient in weight (‘too light’); below the standard or legal weight.

23 1589.  Nottingham Rec., IV. 226. For chaungeinge of fowre light French Crownes.

24 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 328. Be it so much As makes it light or heauy in the substance Or the deuision of the twentieth part of one poore scruple.

25 1622.  Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 115. Light Gold taken for merchandises sold.

26 1700.  Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 947. All Clipt and Light Money was called in.

27 1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., This Guinea is light.

28 1869.  Tennyson, Holy Grail, 26. For good ye are and bad, and like to coins, Some true, some light.

29 1887.  T. E. Thorpe, in Gd. Words, 400. There is about £50,000,000 of light gold in circulation.

30   2.  Possessing little weight in proportion to bulk; of small specific gravity. In the 17th and 18th centuries often applied to water.

31 1559.  W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 41. It is a generall maior among Philosophers, that al light thynges contend upwarde.

32 1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. I. i. (1651), 232. Pure, thin, light water by all means use.

33 1632.  Lithgow, Trav., VI. 260. It is the lightest water the earth yeelds … I found it so light, that I had no weight … in the bearing of it.

34 1683.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, 383. Founders call their Ashes Lean, if they are Light; because then they have little Mettle in them.

35 1683.  Tryon, Way to Health, vi. (1697), 100. This is the lightest of all Waters, it cools and heats quickly.

36 1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 6/1. The best Water is clear, transparent and light.

37 a. 1728.  Woodward, Fossils, I. (1729), I. 13. The Earthy matter, that was softer and lighter, would be easily washed away.

38 1838.  T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 504. The charcoal is light and brilliant.

39 1846.  J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), I. 373. The seeds of the different grasses naturally divide themselves into light and heavy seeds.

40 1868.  Lockyer, Elem. Astron., iii. § 10 (1879), 59. Hydrogen, the lightest gas.

41 1876.  Harley, Mat. Med. (ed. 6), 184. Light magnesia is obtained by the same process from the light carbonate of magnesia.

42   absol.  a. 1619.  Fotherby, Atheom., II. xi. § 1. 309. Æqually compounded of Light, and Heauie.

43   † 3.  In comparative: Delivered (of a child).

44 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8593. On a night bath lighter war þai.

45 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 310. On wherfe þer scho was & lighter of a sonne.

46 c. 1560.  in Depos. Rebell. 1569 (Surtees), 61. The morrow after the said Charles wyf was lighter.

47 1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 138. Our quene is instantlie lychter of a bony barne.

48 a. 1783.  Willie’s Lady, viii. in Child, Ballads, I. 86. Of her young bairn she’ll neer be lighter.

49   4.  Bearing a small or comparatively small load. Of a vessel: Having a small burthen, or (the usual sense) unladen, without cargo. (Cf. HEAVY a. 4.) Light engine (see quot. 1881). Light railway: a railway constructed for light traffic. Light porter: one who carries only light packages. Light water-draught, water-line (see quot. 1867).

50 1602.  in Rec. Convent. R. Burghs (1870), II. 133. Quither the schip be laydnit or licht.

51 c. 1630.  Milton, On the University Carrier, 22. He di’d for heavines that his Cart went light.

52 1665.  Lond. Gaz., No. 11/1. The Norwich sent in one of near Three hundred Tuns, a light Ship.

53 1703.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3968/1. The Privateer being light and clean, came up with her about 4 in the afternoon.

54 1729.  Moreton, Apparit., 213. The Ship was sent light as they call it to Virginia for a loading of tobacco.

55 1794.  Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 220. To allow light Swedes to leave the Port of Leghorn.

56 1835.  Mech. Mag., XXII. 275. When the vessel is light, the speed of the wheels is increased.

57 1854.  Dickens, Hard T., II. i. 135. A deaf serving-woman, and the light porter completed Mrs. Sparsit’s empire.

58 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Light water-draught, the depth of water, which a vessel draws when she is empty, or nearly so. Light water-line, the line showing the depression of the ship’s body in the water, when just launched, or quite unladen.

59 1868.  Act 31 & 32 Vict., c. 119 § 28. A light Railway shall be constructed and … the Regulations … shall not authorize a greater Weight than Eight Tons to be brought upon the Rails by any One Pair of Wheels.

60 1881.  M. Reynolds, Engine-Driving Life, 111. A ‘light engine’—a phrase in railway circles that means an engine alone, without a train.

61   b.  fig. or in figurative context.

62 1768.  Hume, Balance of Power, Ess. 198. The Athenians always threw themselves into the lighter scale, and endeavoured to preserve the balance.

63 a. 1774.  Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), I. 321. Laden with years, and so extremely light of honesty, that [etc.].

64   5.  Chiefly Mil. Lightly armed or equipped. † Also, lightly clad. Light marching order (see quot. 1825). Also LIGHT HORSE, HORSEMAN.

65 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 15. Al light for somer rood this worthy man.

66 1600.  Holland, Livy, VII. x. 255. A light footmans shield he takes unto him.

67 1633.  T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., III. iii. (1810), 527. Captaine Taffes troop of Horse with certaine light foote were sent from the campe.

68 1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xviii. II. 111. He was overtaken … by a party of light cavalry.

69 1808.  Med. Jrnl., XIX. 305. His Majesty’s 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons.

70 1813.  Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., X. 527. I shall be with the Light division in the morning.

71 1825.  G. R. Gleig, Subaltern, iii. 48. The division was to enter the trenches … in what is called light marching order; that is, leaving their knapsacks, blankets, &c., behind, and carrying with them only their arms and ammunition.

72 1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, xx. III. 161. To send a body of Thracian cavalry and light troops to the aid of the Athenians.

73 1846.  Greener, Sci. Gunnery, 393. Carbines, for some light infantry regiments.

74 1871.  R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, xxviii. 2. Starving company, troop of hungry Piso, Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious.

75 1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xvi. 265. The legions had come light, without tents or baggage.

76 1891.  C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 49. To travel in America one must travel light.

77   6.  Of a vehicle or vessel: Lightly constructed; adapted for light loads and for swift movement. Light cart = ‘spring cart’ (see CART sb. 3).

78 c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. § 19. Hy habbað swyðe lytle scypa & swyðe leohte.

79 1579.  Fenton, Guicciard., I. (1599), 28. It contayned xxxv. light or suttle gallies.

80 1694.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3008/1. The Mareschal de Tourville had sent out divers light Frigats … to get Intelligence. Ibid. (1716), No. 5473/1. The lighter part of the … Fleet, viz. Gallies &c. was in the Port.

81 1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, VII. i. The arrival of a first-rate light coach in a country town.

82 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 480. Light vessels sent out by the English admiral for the purpose of obtaining intelligence.

83 1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, I. xiii. My Lord Mohun sent to London for a light chaise he had.

84 1882.  Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, III. i. 15. You had better go in the light cart.

85   7.  Of a building: Having an appearance suggestive of lightness; graceful and elegant in form.

86 1762.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1765), II. i. 37, note. One of the lightest and most beautiful parish churches I have seen.

87 1818.  [see HEAVY a. 15].

88 1837.  Penny Cycl., VII. 218/1. Unless [etc.] … such timber model would have given rise to a much lighter style of architecture.

89 1850.  Gloss. Archit. (ed. 5), 439. Small light spires.

90   II.  Having the operation or properties of things of little physical weight.

91   8.  Having little momentum or force; gentle, not violent; acting gently; moving, impelling or manipulating something without heavy pressure or violence. Said esp. of the hand, a step, the wind, † a medicine, or medical appliance (obs.), and occas. of immaterial agencies. Also light of touch.

92 a. 1000.  Widsith, 72 (Gr.). Se hæfde moncynnes … leohteste hond.

93 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 220. Uour dolen, þus todeled—uondunge liht & derne—uondunge liht & openliche—uondunge strong & derne—uondunge strong & openliche.

94 c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 88. Þese ben liȝt medicyns … & þese medicyns ben strongere. Ibid., 92. Þer is noon oþer wey, but a liȝt cauterization of þe senewe þat is hurt.

95 1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. iv. 69. This Citie must be famisht, or with light Skirmishes enfeebled. Ibid. (1592), Ven. & Ad., 566. Waxe … yeelds at last to euerie light impression.

96 1765.  Foote, Commissary, II. Wks. 1799, II. 22. There are risings and sinkings … as light as a cork.

97 1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xii. Ellena fled with lighter steps along the alley.

98 1833.  Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, I. iv. 51. The lightest of her shriller tones made itself heard.

99 1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xxvii. A tedious passage, from baffling and light winds.

100 1849.  Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, v. § 8. 144. A painter’s light execution of a background.

101 1856.  Whyte-Melville, Kate Cov., iii. Gertrude … brushing away … at my back hair, and pulling it unnecessarily hard: no maid ever yet had a ‘light’ hand.

102 1863.  Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, 16. Though her hand be airy light Of touch.

103 1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. lxii. 229. His light walk.

104 1885.  Law Times Rep., LIII. 54/1. There was a light breeze from about S.W. by S.

105 1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 413. Intercurrent inflammations should be treated on general principles but with a light hand.

106 1901.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., 5 Jan., 8. When the extent of the cardiac dulness has been determined by careful light percussion [etc.].

107   9.  Having little density, tenacity, or cohesive force. Of soil: Friable, porous, workable. Of a cloud: Fleecy, vaporous, evanescent.

108 1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 4. They [wheel-ploughs] be good on euen grounde that lyeth lyghte.

109 1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 106. The common sort of white Pea doth best in a light Land that is somewhat rich.

110 1806.  Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2), 262. The district of Glenlivet is remarkably fertile, the soil being a light loam.

111 1816.  Byron, Siege Cor., xxi. There is a light cloud by the moon.

112 1823.  J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 60. Sand … generally prevails to the amount of one half in light soils.

113 1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xxvii. 208. Some of the lighter clouds doubled round the summit of the mountain.

114 1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 606. A dull roar which made the light friable earth quiver under our feet.

115   b.  Of bread, pastry, etc.: That has ‘risen’ properly, not ‘heavy’ or dense.

116 c. 1460.  J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 339. Þan take youre loof of light payne.

117 1578.  Bullein, Dial. (1888). 51. Eate light leauened breade.

118 1620.  Venner, Via Recta, i. 20. The fourth property is, that it [bread] be light, and somewhat open.

119 1747.  Mrs. Glasse, Cookery (1767), 145. Make it up into a light paste with cold water…; then roll it out. Ibid. Skim off … as much of the liquor as will make it a light good crust.

120 1864.  Mrs. Stowe, House & Home Papers, x. (1865), 112. Bread: What ought it to be? It should be light, sweet, and tender.

121 c. 1895.  N. Midl. School Cookery Bk., 44. To make a light dough.

122   10.  Of food or drink: That does not lie heavy on the stomach; easy of digestion. Of wine, beer, etc.: Containing little alcohol.

123 c. 1000.  Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 282/6. Melle dulci, leoht beor.

124 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., III. 122. Drince leoht wyn.

125 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 241. For yf a man ette fryste grete mettes and sethyn lyght mettis, the lyght mettis shal be annone defyet.

126 c. 1510.  Interl. Four Elem. (Percy), 23. Canst get my mayster a dyshe of quales, Smal byrdes, swalowes or wagtayles. They be lyght of dygestyon?’

127 1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 9. A light repaste, suche as the bodie maye easyly and without incommoditee awaye withall.

128 1620.  Venner, Via Recta, iii. 69. The lights are of light digestion.

129 1693.  Congreve, Dryden’s Juvenal, XI. 128. Apples … Mellow’d by Winter, from their cruder Juice, Light of Digestion now, and fit for Use.

130 1707.  J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 82. Don Diego took a light Supper.

131 1822–34.  Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), I. 675, note. The lighter preparations of bark … are often found to be eligible tonics in hectic cases.

132 1832.  Lytton, Eugene A., I. xi. The little family were assembled at the last and lightest meal of the day.

133 1880.  McCarthy, Own Times, III. xli. 238. The light wines of Bordeaux began to be familiar to almost every table.

134 1896.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 418. Rice and sago and such like puddings are not light or easily digestible foods.

135 1898.  J. Hutchinson, in Arch. Surg., IX. 316. Beer, which you would think was lighter [than stout].

136   11.  Light in the mouth (of a horse): sensitive to the bit. (Cf. HEAVY a. 11.)

137 1727.  Bailey, vol. II., Light upon the Hand [in Horsemanship] is said of a Horse that has a good tractable Mouth, and does not rest too heavy upon the Bit.

138 1884.  E. L. Anderson, Mod. Horsemanship, I. iv. 11. The beginner should be mounted upon a quiet horse that is light in the mouth.

139   12.  Of a syllable: Unemphatic, of little weight or sonorousness. Hence, of rhythm, consisting largely of such syllables.

140 1887.  S. Colvin, Keats, v. 109. A perverse persistency in ending his heroic lines with the lightest syllables—prepositions, adverbs and conjunctions—on which neither pause nor emphasis is possible.

141 1901.  Bridges, Milton’s Prosody, 90. Keeping therefore the term short, as it is used in the prosody of the Greeks, for the very shortest syllables, it is necessary to make two classes of their long syllables; and these I shall distinguish into heavy and light. Ibid., 96. The greater part of the poem is in a lighter rhythm.

142   III.  Of little gravity or moment.

143   13.  Of small importance or consequence, not weighty; slight, trivial. Of a sin: Venial.

144 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., lxii. (heading), Ðætte hwilum ða leohtan scylda bioð beteran to forlætenne.

145 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23021. Þai þat has bot sinnes light sal clengid be.

146 a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xxiv. 4. Godis wayes he calles his lightere biddyngis.

147 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1424. Light harmes Let ouer-passe.

148 c. 1430.  Life St. Kath. (Gibbs MS.), lf. 100. Presume not to blaber aȝenst oure goddes by lythe repreef.

149 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxii. 51. I grant my seruice is bot licht.

150 1563.  Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., Wks. 1888, I. 52. Breuelie considering the first part of thair titill to this thair supreme auctoritie, I fand it nocht only sclinder and licht, bot planelie inglorius.

151 1570.  G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 8. I made but smal & liht account of mi fellowship.

152 1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 51. Proscribing … whole families together, yea and that for light occasions.

153 a. 1661.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 308. Not only all evil doing, but even the lightest suspicions thereof.

154 1742.  Collins, Ode Poet. Char., 1. If not with light regard, I read aright that gifted bard.

155 1753.  N. Torriano, Gangr. Sore Throat, 89. The Disease began with a light Shivering.

156 1772.  Junius Lett., lxviii. 338. This is no light matter.

157 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 161. Against the lighter vices the ruling faction waged war.

158 1866.  B. North, Yes or No! xii. 269. It was what the world calls a venial or light sin.

159 1871.  Smiles, Charac., i. (1876), 25. They will be held in light esteem by other nations.

160 1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 476. Windy tumidities … and therewith light diarrhœas are often associated.

161   † b.  Of small value, cheap. Of a price: LOW. Also light cheap = CHEAP a. and adv. (Cf. CHEAP sb. 8, 9.) Obs.

162 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 246. This Rescamiraduk … His letter gan rebuk, sette it at light prise.

163 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., ii. 236. That cam hym full light chepe.

164 c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 158. Thare come ane laithles leid air to this place, With ane girdill ourgilt, and vthir light gere.

165 1609.  Bible (Douay), 1 Kings x. 15. Al that sold light wares.

166 1641.  Trapp, Theol. Theol., 267. That it comes to us so light cheap, is cause of thankfullnesse. Ibid. (1647), Comm. 1 John iii. 18. Words are light-cheap, and there is a great deal of mouth-mercy abroad.

167   † c.  Of persons: Not commanding respect by position or character; of small account. Obs.

168 1529.  More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 175/1. I might by a light person somtime knowe a muche more substanciall man.

169 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 169 b. Diverse other light marchantes within the citee. Ibid. (1548), Chron., Hen. VII., 19. He set more by vile borne vileyns and light persones, then by the princes and nobles.

170   d.  Used predicatively or absol. in various phrases: † (a) To set (a person or thing) light, at light; to set light by or of (a person or thing): to account of small value, to despise, slight, undervalue. To let light of (see LET v.1 16). Obs.

171 c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 635. Be Christ, said the Coilȝear, I set that bot licht. Ibid., 740. He was ludgeit and led, and set at sa licht.

172 1540.  Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), Z vj. Nor set at light a childes yeeres and age.

173 1547.  Homilies, I. Fear Death, II. (1859), 98. Let us not set at light the chastising of the Lord.

174 1594.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 132. We ought not to set light by that knowledge of it [the soule] which wee may attaine vnto.

175 1612.  Sir H. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 244. My Lord of Exeter chafes; I tell them we set it as light.

176 1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Sacrifice, xx. Herod and all his bands do set me light.

177 1642.  J. Eaton, Honey-c. Free Justif., 240. Thereby the words of the Scripture may be extenuated and set light of.

178 1771.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), V. 317. It is no other than betraying him … to set light by any part of his law.

179 1810.  Scott, Lady of L., I. xxiii. Light I held his prophecy.

180   (b)  To make light of: to treat, consider or represent as of small or no importance.

181 1526.  Tindale, Matt. xxii. 5. They made light of it and went their wayes.

182 1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. xiii. Or if he be stungen he maketh lite of it and shortly forgetteth it.

183 1597.  Bacon, Coulers Good & Euil, in Ess. (Arb.), 150. If it appeare to be done by a sonne, or by a wife, or by a neere friend, then it is made light of.

184 1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 311. The Natives make light of such things as we call Colds.

185 1736.  Butler, Anal., II. i. Wks. 1874, I. 170. How great presumption it is, to make light of any institutions of Divine appointment.

186 1767.  Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 236. A Barber-Surgeon was called to her, who made very light of it [a slight wound].

187 1815.  Jane Austen, Emma, I. xvi. 116. Making light of what ought to be serious.

188 1898.  H. Calderwood, Hume, iii. 31. A tendency to make light of renson.

189   14.  Characterized by levity, frivolous, unthinking. Const. † of.

190 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 106. Þeos lufsume lefdi … ne luuede heo nane lihte plohen.

191 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3285. Ne was sco not o letes light. Ibid., 28568. Laghter light þat cums of gle.

192 a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3346. Sum dros of syn, Als light speche, or thoght in vayn.

193 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VII. 112. Licht men and vauerand.

194 1461.  Paston Lett., No. 405, II. 31. The Commynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them.

195 1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 256/2. A monke moche Joly and lyght of his lyuyng.

196 1536.  R. Beerley, Lett. to Ld. Cromwell, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. xxxv. 257. Lyzth and foolish ceremonies made … [by] lyzth and undiscrete faders.

197 1554.  T. Martin, Treat. Marriage Priestes, Ll iij. Being (as some were), light braines, runnagates, vnthriftes and riotours.

198 1571.  Grindal, Injunct. York, I. § 1. Being circumspect, that you offende no man eyther by light behauiour or by light apparell.

199 1610.  Guillim, Heraldry, I. viii. (1660), 45. If light eares incline to light lips, harm ensueth.

200 1631.  Sanderson, Serm., II. 3. A sober grave matron … will never be light and garish.

201 1641.  Vind. Smectymnuus, 31. It never came into our thoughts to use a light expression.

202 1692.  Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. Pop., M.’s Wks. 1738, I. 469. Was there ever any thing more light and mad than this Man is?

203 1713.  Steele, Englishman, No. 27. 176. Publick Faith is now commonly talked of in the lightest manner.

204 1754.  Richardson, Grandison, IV. xxxv. 245. The light wretch’s as light expression.

205 1823.  Scott, Peveril, x. The disposition of the young Earl was lighter and more volatile than that of Julian.

206 1834.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (1837), I. xxiii. 354. That light perpetual talk about him.

207 1856.  Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, III. 319. I wrote tales beside … To suit light readers.

208 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 58. They speak of friends in no light or trivial manner.

209 1882.  Stevenson, New Arab. Nts. (1901), 86/2. I made some light rejoinder.

210   b.  Of persons (chiefly of women) and their behavior: Wanton, unchaste.

211 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxv. (Thadee), 3. Thadee … licht women wes & richt brukil of hyre flesche.

212 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 144. Vntrewe men and light women of body.

213 1581.  Lyly, Euphues, To Schollers Oxf. (Arb.), 208. Did not Iupiters egge bring forth … Helen a light huswife.

214 1676.  Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, IV. i. To give up her Honour to save her Jointure; and seem to be a light Woman, rather than marry.

215 1826.  Scott, Woodst., iii. Lewd men and light women.

216 1883.  R. W. Dixon, Mano, II. v. 82. For nought beside vain dalliance cared they, And their light folly was before our eyes.

217 1895.  T. Hardy, Jude the Obscure, II. vi. 144. Jude … found the room full of … soldiers … and light women.

218   IV.  Having the quick action that results from lightness.

219   15.  Moving readily; active, nimble, quick, swift. So light of foot, of person; † light-fingers (cf. LIGHT-FINGERED); † light to run (cf. LIGHT-FOOTED). Now only arch.

220 a. 1000.  Phœnix, 317 (Gr.). He [se fuʓel] is snel and swift & swiþe leoht.

221 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 13. Þat man be waker, and liht, and snel.

222 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9277. Welssemen … þat liȝte were & hardi.

223 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3730. Moght i not be sua light o fote.

224 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 56. Fiff hundreth armyt weill in steill, That on licht horss war [horsyt] weill.

225 14[?].  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 577/14. Currax, lyght to renne.

226 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IV. ix. 130. Syr Accolon lost not a dele of blood, therfor he waxt passynge lyghte.

227 1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., cxxi. 102. He was so lyght of fote that men callyd hym comenlych harold hare foote.

228 1508.  Dunbar, Thistle & Rose, 95. Lusty of schaip, lycht of deliuerance.

229 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 213 b. That diverse persones havyng light horses, should skoure the countrey.

230 1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., iii. 70. To dance that nycht thay said sho sould not slak, With leggis lycht to hald the wedow walkane.

231 1583.  Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., IV. 54. He that was in the watch, saued himself with a light paire of heeles.

232 1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 205. Too light for such a swaine as you to catch.

233 1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. v. 342. He required the Cacique … to give him an Indian that were light, to carry him a Letter.

234 1669.  Worlidge, Syst. Agric., vii. § 11 (1681), 135. The more remote the Branches are from the Earth, the less are they subject to the injuries of Cattle, or the Fruit to light Fingers.

235 1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., Among Astrologers, a Planet is said To be light, i. e. nimble, compared to another that moves slower.

236 1801.  W. Huntington, Bank of Faith, Ded. 15. It is common among horse-jockies to cry a horse down if his heels are too light.

237 1883.  R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. ix. 25. Well coloured was she, tall and debonair, And light and very swift.

238   16.  That moves or is moved easily or with slight pressure; pliant, fickle, shifty, unsteady; facile, ready (of belief, etc.). Const. of, to with inf. Now rare. (See also LIGHT OF LOVE.)

239 c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 1062. Þer to icham al liȝt.

240 1382.  Wyclif, Prov. xviii. 14. The spirit forsothe liȝt to wrathen.

241 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1699, Lucrece. He was lyght of tunge.

242 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1229. He … Launches euyn to Lamydon with a light wille.

243 1483.  Caxton, Cato, C vij b. For euery man oughte to be lyght to heeryng and slowe to speke.

244 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. ii. 57. Set in stead of that man, licht as lynd, Ouder a cloud or a waist puft of wynd.

245 1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxiii. 32. The kyng, who gaue lyght credence to thaym causedde his vncle … to be beheeded.

246 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 40 b. Be not lyght to byleue euery spiryte.

247 a. 1529.  Skelton, Dethe Erle Northumberlande, 175. Be not lyght of credence in no case.

248 1538.  Bale, God’s Promises, IV. (1744), 21. Thynkest thu that I wyll so sone change my decre? No, no, frynde Moses; so lyght thu shalt not fynde me.

249 1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 6. The Lyon, lyght of credite, forthwith ranne upon the wolfe and slewe hym.

250 c. 1570.  Foxe, Serm. 2 Cor. v. 52. Some … use to giue light eare to such whisperers.

251 1576.  Turberv., Bk. Venerie, 174. When hounds are hunted with in this sorte, they become so light of beliefe that [etc.].

252 1597.  Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 367. To whom the chast Matron gaue light credence.

253 1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 80. At this exaction … the light Constantinopolitans grievously murmured.

254 1627.  trans. Bacon’s Life & Death (1651), 56. A young man is light and moveable, an old man more grave and constant.

255 1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VII. 410. Were he not to have been so light of belief.

256 1853.  M. Arnold, Scholar-Gipsy, xviii. We Light half-believers of our casual creeds.

257 1890.  Lecky, Eng. in 18th C., VII. 46. A light man, in whom no person can place any confidence.

258   V.  That weighs or presses but little on the powers, senses or feelings.

259   17.  Easy to bear or endure. Of an expense or impost: Easy to pay. (Cf. HEAVY a. 23.)

260 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. x. 15. Lihtro bið tuoeʓe burgas in dæʓ domes ðon ðær ceastre.

261 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xi. 30. Min byrþyn is leoht.

262 c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 958. My burþene [is] liȝt i-nouh to beren.

263 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 521. Luff … all paynys maks licht.

264 c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., 17. Ȝif þou wolt haue it a-forsyd with lyȝt coste, Take milk [etc.].

265 1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ci. 121. I am content ye shall come to a lyght ransome, for the loue of my cosyn of Derby.

266 1562.  Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, iii. Wks. 1888, I. 23. The office of all potestatis is lycht to thaim and plesand to the subiectis.

267 1567.  Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 33. The paine, that is now present, schort and licht.

268 1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. vi. 115 (Qos. 1608). How light and portable my paine seemes now!

269 1611.  Bible, 1 Kings xii. 4. Make thou … his heauy yoke which he put vpon us, lighter.

270 1772.  Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), II. 126. The afflictions of this present life will seem light.

271 1800–24.  Campbell, Martial Elegy, iii. Deeming light the cost Of life itself in glorious battle lost.

272 1882.  B. D. W. Ramsay, Recoll. Mil. Serv., I. iv. 74. All that we had endured was light compared to the discomfort on board.

273 1896.  Mrs. Caffyn, Quaker Grandmother, 226. Your seeing me has been no light punishment.

274   18.  Easy to perform or accomplish, requiring little exertion; now only qualifying a sb. such as task, work, etc.; formerly often as predicate with clause as subj. † Also, easy to obtain. † Of speech: Easy to utter; plain. (Cf. HEAVY a. 24.)

275 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 342. Hy habbaþ þas þe leohtran gang.

276 a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 312. It is strong to stonde longe, and liht it is to falle hard.

277 c. 1200.  Ormin, 4500. Acc witt tu þatt itt niss nohht lihht To betenn hefiȝ sinne.

278 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 428. Þe leaue beo liht in alle þeo þinges þer nis sunne.

279 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., Prol. (1810), Pref. 99. In symple speche … Þat is lightest in manne’s mouthe.

280 1340.  Ayenb., 99. Liȝt to zigge an sotil to onderstonde.

281 a. 1375.  Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. iv. 78. Þe nexte þing to here, And þe lihtest for to lere.

282 c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. Ful lihte rewles.

283 c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 229. Glandule comeþ þe most part of fleume, & ben liȝter to resolue.

284 c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 304/1. Lyght of knowing or werking, facilis.

285 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. xvii. 100. It is liȝt for to answere.

286 1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, 7. Yt is not lyght for euery man to drawe eny longe thyng from latyn into oure Englyshe tongue.

287 a. 1555.  Philpot, Exam. & Writ. (Parker Soc.), 335. It is not more lighter for him to slide and fall.

288 1610.  Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 451. Least too light winning Make the prize light.

289 a. 1700.  Dryden, Theod. & Hon., 247. Well pleas’d were all his Friends, The Task was light.

290 1788.  Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 186. The service will be light and easy.

291 1832.  Ht. Martineau, Demerara, i. 7. Invalids who were sufficiently recovered to do light work.

292 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 123. To keep down the English people was no light task even for that army.

293 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 239. I cannot promise you that the task will be a light one.

294   † b.  Phrase. Of light [trans. OF. de legier]: lightly, easily. Obs.

295 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 106. A man that is well garnysshed is not of lighte overthrowe. Ibid. (1490), Eneydos, xii. 45. All this people … Whiche shall mowe of lyght, aryse, and make werre ayenst the.

296   19.  Of literature, dramatic works, music, etc.: Requiring little mental effort; amusing, entertaining. Light comedian: An actor of light comedy. (Cf. HEAVY a. 20, 21.)

297 1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 150. Madrigals, Canzonets, and such like light musicke.

298 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, X. vii. (Rtldg.), 355. The library abounded in romances. Don Cæsar seemed to give the preference to that light reading.

299 1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, xviii. III. 79. Æschylus was accounted no less a master of the light than of the serious drama.

300 1849.  Blackw. Mag., Jan., 40. Light reading does not do when the heart is really heavy.

301 1878.  Browning, Poets of Croisic, xcv. From out your desk Hand me some lighter sample.

302 1880.  Daily Tel., 20 Dec., 2/4. The old-fashioned plan of ending a symphony with a light and brilliant rondo, that lays no tax upon the hearer’s wearied faculties.

303 1885.  W. C. Day, Behind Footlights, 118. The light comedian will complete the list of our company.

304 1885.  J. K. Jerome, On the Stage, 33. I remember the first time our light comedy attempted to sit down on one of these chairs.

305 1888.  Bryce, Amer. Commw. (1890), III. iii. 604. What may be called the lighter ornamental style, such as the after-dinner speech.

306   20.  Of sleep: Not oppressive to the bodily sense; easily shaken off. Hence also light sleeper.

307 c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., V. ix. (1890), 410. Me liht slep oferorn.

308 1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., Evening, xiii. Be every mourner’s sleep to-night, Like infant’s slumbers, pure and light.

309 1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxxviii. I am a light sleeper; and it’s better to be up than lying awake.

310 1894.  Hon. Emily Lawless, Maelcho, II. ii. 21. A man who at all times was a light sleeper.

311   VI.  21. Free from the weight of care or sorrow; cheerful, merry. Obs. exc. in light heart. † Also glad and light, etc. † Const. of.

312 13[?].  in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 239. Þou waxist heui þat was wel lit.

313 a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 77. They mote singen and be light.

314 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1411. All þere lordes were light þat þai lyffe hade.

315 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 5332. Ȝit be liȝt & lete of þi sorowe.

316 1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, I. x. (1554), 21 b. The people were full glad and lyght.

317 c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 448. He was so light Of hir talking and of hir sight.

318 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxvii. 23. Na ferly thocht his hart wes licht.

319 1778.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 23 Aug. I have rarely seen a very rich man with a light heart and light spirits.

320 1844.  A. Welby, Poems (1867), 1. When my heart was as light as a blossom in June.

321 1884.  W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 55. Now my heart is light again, and I Could laugh like children at a pantomime.

322 1893.  F. Adams, New Egypt, 146. He broke into a light laugh.

323   VII.  22. Of the head: Dizzy, giddy. Also of persons: Wandering in mind, delirious = LIGHT-HEADED 1 (now dial.: see Eng. Dial. Dict.).

324   [Cf. sense 16; but there appears to be here a reference to a subjective sensation of physical levity.]

325 1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 72. And thereof comes it that his head is light. Ibid. (1604), Oth., IV. i. 280. Are his wits safe? Is he not light of Braine?

326 1662.  R. Mathew, Unl. Alch., § 89. 141. He … continued very light eight dayes.

327 1791.  J. Learmont, Poems, 8. Light grew her head, her breast did beat.

328 Mod. (Donegal) ‘He’s a bit light at the full and the change’ (H. C. Hart).

329   VIII.  23. Comb.: a. in syntactical combs. used attrib. or as adjs., as light-draught, -heart, -land, -marching; b. in parasynthetic derivatives, as light-bellied, -bodied, -brained, † -disposed, -legged, -mouthed, -pointed, -robed, -spirited, -thoughted, -tongued, -winged, -witted adjs.; † light-eared a., ready to listen, credulous; † light-poised a., of light weight; † light-skirted a. (of a woman: cf. LIGHT-SKIRTS), light in conduct, wanton (hence † lightskirtedness); † light-tailed a. = prec.; light-timbered a., (of a horse) lightly built, active. Also LIGHT-ARMED, LIGHT-FINGERED, etc.

330 1823.  Crabb, Technol. Dict., *Light-bellied, an epithet for a horse that has flat, narrow, and contracted sides.

331 1686.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2136/4. A white sanded gray Mare … *light-bodied.

332 1590.  Marlowe, Edw. II., V. ii. (1598), H 2 b. The proud corrupters of the *light-brained king.

333 1870.  T. W. Higginson, Army Life in Black Regim., 169. We could then ascend the smaller stream with two *light-draft boats.

334 1897.  Daily News, 3 March, 5/2. Eight light-draught steamers for special service.

335 a. 1552.  Ld. Somerset, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 736 b. When one is ouer *light eared, the one way, and deafe on the other side.

336 1845.  G. Murray, Islaford, 37. There was a *light-heart briskness in the air.

337 1812.  Examiner, 7 Sept., 563/2. *Light-land wheat, almost everywhere good.

338 a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1622), 87. *Light-legged Pas had got the middle space.

339 1888.  M. Morris, Claverhouse, x. 186. His men were no match for the active *light-marching Highlanders.

340 1884.  E. A. Anderson, Mod. Horsemanship, v. 18. It is dangerous to have a severe bit upon a *light-mouthed horse.

341 1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 263. Its *light-pointed roof, its clustered chimneys.

342 1615.  Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 205. Swift is’t [the water of the Kent] in pace, *light-poiz’d, to looke in cleere.

343 1876.  Humphreys, Coin Coll. Man., xxiv. 326. A *light-robed female presenting her hand to three soldiers.

344 a. 1758.  Ramsay, Some of the Contents, vii. *Licht skirted lasses, and the girnand wyfe.

345 1607.  R. C[arew], trans. Estienne’s World of Wonders, 101. *Light skirtednesse and leuitie.

346 1600.  J. Lane, Tom Tel-troth (1876), 133. *Light-taylde huswiues.

347 1777.  R. Potter, Æschylus, Prometheus chain’d, 26. Unfruitfull labour and *light-thoughted folly.

348 1683.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1871/4. A *light timbered bright bay Gelding.

349 a. 1825.  Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Light-timbered, light-limbed; active and alert.

350 1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xvii. To keep *light-tongued companions out of the way.

351 1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 269. *Light-wing’d Toyes Of feather’d Cupid seele with wanton dulnesse My … offic’d Instrument.

352 1763.  Mason, Sonn. to Earl Holdernesse, 6. Here, as the light wing’d moments glide serene.

353 1577.  H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk. (1868), 82. For *lyght-witted or dronken, sure, men will name thee in talke.

354 1699.  Bentley, Phal., 86. A foolish light witted fellow.

355 © 2024 WEHD.com