slight

slight
{{11}}slight (adj.) early 14c., "flat, smooth; hairless," from a Scandinavian source akin to O.N. slettr "smooth, sleek," from P.Gmc. *slikhtaz (Cf. O.S. slicht; Low Ger. slicht "smooth, plain common;" O.E. -sliht "level," attested in eorðslihtes "level with the ground;" O.Fris. sliucht, M.Du. sleht, O.H.G. sleht, Goth. slaihts "smooth"), probably from a collateral form of PIE root *sleig- "to smooth, glide."
Sense evolution is from "smooth" (c.1300), to "trifling, inferior" (early 14c.), to "slender, weak; of poor quality, flimsy" (late 14c.). Sense of German cognate schlecht developed from "smooth, plain, simple" to "bad," and as it did it was replaced in the original senses by schlicht, a back-formation from schlichten "to smooth, to plane," a derivative of schlecht in the old sense.
{{12}}slight (v.) "treat with indifference," 1590s, from SLIGHT (Cf. slight) (adj.) in sense of "having little worth." Related: Slighted; slighting.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Slight — Slight, a. [Compar. {Slighter}; superl. {Slightest}.] [OE. sli?t, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. sl?ttr smooth, Sw. sl[ a]t,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Slight — Slight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Slighted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Slighting}.] To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. Milton. [1913 Webster] The wretch who slights the bounty of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • slight — slight·er; slight; slight·ish; slight·ly; slight·ness; slight·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • slight — I adjective ancillary, auxiliary, diminutive, exiguous, exiguus, immaterial, inappreciable, inconsequential, inconsiderable, inferior, insignificant, levis, light, limited, little, meager, mean, minor, minute, modest, negligible, niggardly,… …   Law dictionary

  • slight — [adj1] insignificant, small fat, feeble, inconsiderable, insubstantial, meager, minor, modest, negligible, off, outside, paltry, petty, piddling, remote, scanty, slender, slim, sparse, superficial, trifling, trivial, unessential, unimportant,… …   New thesaurus

  • Slight — Slight, adv. Slightly. [Obs. or Poetic] [1913 Webster] Think not so slight of glory. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Slight — is a surname, and may refer to:* Aaron Slight (born 1966), former professional motorcycle road racer * Jim Slight (1855 1930), Australian cricketeree also* Sleight …   Wikipedia

  • slight — [slīt] adj. [ME (northern dial.) sliht < OE, kin to OHG sleht, straight, smooth: for IE base see SLICK] 1. a) light in form or build; not stout or heavy; slender b) frail; fragile 2. having little weight, strength, substance, or significance… …   English World dictionary

  • slight|ly — «SLYT lee», adverb. 1. in a slight manner. 2. to a slight degree; a little; somewhat: »I know him slightly. 3. in a slighting manner; disdainfully …   Useful english dictionary

  • Slight — Slight, n. The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity. [1913 Webster] Syn: Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Slight — Slight, n. Sleight. Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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