Lightness

//ˈlaɪtnəs// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    the condition of being illuminated uncountable

    "Well, darkness has a hunger that's insatiable and lightness has a call that's hard to hear."

  2. 2
    The state of having little (or less) weight, or little force. uncountable

    "The unique chassis design is largely the secret of the lightness of the locomotive."

  3. 3
    the trait of being lighthearted and frivolous wordnet
  4. 4
    the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour uncountable
  5. 5
    Agility of movement. uncountable
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures wordnet
  2. 7
    The product of being illuminated. countable
  3. 8
    Freedom from worry. uncountable

    "In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road."

  4. 9
    having a light color wordnet
  5. 10
    Levity, frivolity; inconsistency. uncountable

    "Seneca […] accounts it a filthy lightness in men, every day to lay new foundations of their life, but who doth otherwise?"

  6. 11
    the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble wordnet
  7. 12
    the property of being comparatively small in weight wordnet
  8. 13
    a feeling of joy and pride wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English lightnes, lightnesse, from Old English līhtnes, lȳhtnys (“enlightening, illumination”), from Proto-West Germanic *liuhtinassī; equivalent to light (“to make bright, illuminate”, verb) + -ness (suffix forming nouns). Cognate with Old High German liuhtnissi (“illumination, enlightening”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English lightnes, lightnesse, from Old English *lēohtnes (“lightness”) (compare Old English lēohtmōdnes (“lightness”, literally “light-moodedness”), līhtingnes (“lightness, alleviation”)); equivalent to light (“not heavy”, adjective) + -ness (suffix forming nouns). Cognate with Middle Low German luchtnisse, lüchtnisse (“lightness, frivolity, joyfulness”).

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