different between slight vs insubstantial
slight
English
Etymology
From Middle English slight (“bad, of poor quality, unimportant, trivial, slender, slim, smooth, level”), from Old English sliht (“smooth, level”), from Proto-Germanic *slihtaz (“slippery, flat, level, plain”), related to English slick. Cognate with Scots slicht (“bad, of poor quality”), West Frisian sljocht (“smooth, level, plain, simple”), Dutch slecht (“bad”), Low German slecht (“bad”), German schlecht (“bad”) and schlicht (“plain, artless, natural”), Danish slet (“bad, evil, poor, nasty, wrong”), Swedish slät (“smooth”), Norwegian slett (“even”), Icelandic sléttur (“even, smooth, level”).
Pronunciation
- enPR: sl?t, IPA(key): /sla?t/
- (US) IPA(key): [sl?l?????]
- Rhymes: -a?t
- Homophone: sleight
Adjective
slight (comparative slighter, superlative slightest)
- Small
- gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful
- not thorough; superficial
- trifling; unimportant; insignificant
- 1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding
- Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.
- 1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding
- (archaic or rare) not far away in space or time
- Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny; see also Thesaurus:tiny, Thesaurus:insignificant
- gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful
- of slender build
- 1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak
- his own figure, which was formerly so slight
- Synonyms: lithe, svelte, willowy; see also Thesaurus:slender
- 1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak
- (regional) Even, smooth or level
- Synonyms: flat, glassy, slick; see also Thesaurus:smooth
- (especially said of the sea) still; with little or no movement on the surface
- (obsolete) Foolish; silly; not intellectual.
- Synonyms: daft, fatuous, soft in the head; see also Thesaurus:foolish
- (regional, obsolete) Bad, of poor quality.
- 1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings
- we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles
- Synonyms: flimsy, lousy, shoddy; see also Thesaurus:low-quality
- 1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings
- (dated) Slighting; treating with disdain.
- Synonyms: contemptuous, disdainful, scornful; see also Thesaurus:disdainful
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
slight (third-person singular simple present slights, present participle slighting, simple past and past participle slighted)
- (transitive) To treat as unimportant or not worthy of attention; to make light of.
- 1782, William Cowper, Truth
- the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies
- 1782, William Cowper, Truth
- (transitive) To give lesser weight or importance to.
- 1915, Josephine Turck Baker, Correct English (volumes 16-17, page 182)
- Incontiguously (accent on tig; the rest of the syllables slighted) means in an incontiguous manner.
- Synonym: belittle
- Antonyms: respect, value, esteem
- 1915, Josephine Turck Baker, Correct English (volumes 16-17, page 182)
- (transitive) To treat with disdain or neglect, usually out of prejudice, hatred, or jealousy; to ignore disrespectfully.
- 1833, Mary Shelley, The Mortal Immortal
- Though true of heart, she was somewhat of a coquette in manner; and I was jealous as a Turk. She slighted me in a thousand ways, yet would never acknowledge herself to be in the wrong. She would drive me mad with anger, and then force me to beg her pardon.
- Synonyms: contemn, despise
- Antonyms: respect, honor
- 1833, Mary Shelley, The Mortal Immortal
- (intransitive) To act negligently or carelessly. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- (transitive, military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
- (transitive) To make even or level.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Hexham to this entry?)
- (transitive) To throw heedlessly.
Derived terms
- slightingly
Translations
Noun
slight (plural slights)
- The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.
- Synonyms: ignoring, neglect, belittlement
- Antonym: respect
- 1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.
- (obsolete) Sleight.
- For till that stownd could never wight him harme,
By subtilty, nor slight, nor might, nor mighty charme.
- For till that stownd could never wight him harme,
Derived terms
- put a slight upon
Translations
Further reading
- The Dictionary of the Scots Language
- The Dictionary of the Scots Language
- The Middle English Dictionary
Anagrams
- lights
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English sliht, from Proto-Germanic *slihtaz.
Alternative forms
- sli?t, slei?te, sle?t, slyght, sleght, sleight, sly?t
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /slixt/, /sl?xt/
- Rhymes: -ixt
Adjective
slight
- Level, even, smooth; having no bumps or lumps.
- (rare) Of little importance or relevance.
- (rare) Slim, narrow, skinny; of little breadth.
- (rare) Badly made, poorly-built, or low-quality.
Descendants
- English: slight
- Scots: slicht
- Yola: sleight
References
- “slight, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-12-12.
Etymology 2
Noun
slight
- Alternative form of sleight
Adjective
slight
- Alternative form of sleight
slight From the web:
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insubstantial
English
Etymology
in- +? substantial
Adjective
insubstantial (comparative more insubstantial, superlative most insubstantial)
- Lacking substance; not real or strong.
- The bridge was insubstantial and would not safely carry a car.
Synonyms
- unsubstantial (archaic); See also Thesaurus:insubstantial
Antonyms
- substantial; See also Thesaurus:substantial
Translations
insubstantial From the web:
- insubstantial meaning
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