| Title | levity |
|---|---|
| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary lev·i·ty ETYMOLOGY Latin levitat-, levitas, from levis light in weight — more at light DATE 1564 1. excessive or unseemly frivolity 2. lack of steadiness : changeableness English Etymology levity 1564, from L. levitas (gen. levitatis) "lightness, frivolity," from levis "light" in weight (see lever). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 levity lev·ity / 5levEti / noun[U] (formal) behaviour that shows a lack of respect for sth serious and that treats it in an amusing way 轻率的举止；轻浮；轻佻 SYN frivolity
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. Function: noun Synonyms: LIGHTNESS , flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, light-mindedness, volatility Related Words: absurdity, folly, foolishness, silliness Contrasted Words: collection, quietude, sobriety Antonyms: gravity Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged lev·i·ty \ˈlevəd.ē, -ətē, -i\ noun (-es) Etymology: Latin levitat-, levitas lightness in weight, frivolity, from levis light + -itat-, -itas -ity — more at light 1. a. : excessive or unseemly frivolity : lack of fitting seriousness : trifling < light without levity and serious without solemnity, always within the limits of classically disciplined form — New Yorker > < there was about him something that made levity seem out of place — O.S.J.Gogarty > b. : lack of steadiness : changeableness , fickleness , inconstancy < that emotional seriousness will not transform intellectual levity— W.C.Brownell > < pitted its gravity and longevity against the levity and evanescence of the brisk fire — Charles Dickens > 2. a. : the quality or state of being light in weight < the qualities of warmth, levity, and least resistance to the air — William Paley > b. : a positive property of lightness opposed to gravity and formerly believed to be a characteristic of some physical objects < it will no longer be lightness in the sense of very little weight, but positive and active lightness; we call this levity — George Adams & Olive Whicher > < substitutes for universal gravity a polarity of gravity and levity, the latter a nonmechanical … force apparent … in certain volcanic phenomena and the growth of plants — Times Literary Supplement > |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Verb rise air levitate to float defiance gravitation
Previous card: Left levorotatory adjective turning counterclockwise; plane polarization light
Up to card list: English learning