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.]
I. In the primary physical sense and uses connected therewith.
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).
a. 1000. Riddles, xli. 76 (Gr.). Leohtre ic eom micle þonne þes lytla wyrm.
c. 1205. Lay., 5903. Heore wepnen weoren lihte.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 152. Was neuere lef vp-on lynde lyghter þer-after.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 85. Gude lycht harnes, fra that tyme, wsyt he euir.
14[?]. Promp. Parv., 304/1 (MS. K.) Liht of wyhte, (P.) light of weight or mesure.
1534. Tindale, Matt. xi. 30. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 90. Al thair harnesse was lycht.
1613. J. Dennis, Secrets Angling, I. C 2 b. Rods [were made] of lightest Cane and Hazell plant.
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.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., X. 51. How light wou’d lye the Turf upon my Breast, If [etc.].
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 97. The lighter sails, for summer winds and seas, Are now dismiss’d.
1795. Burke, Corr., IV. 325. It [wheat] will be very light in the ear.
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.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, lxiv. 64. Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven.
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.
1659. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. II. 105. Touching judgeth many things, Heavy, Leight, and those that are between them.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 24. The art of weighing, again, has to do with lighter and heavier.
Proverb. 1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 151. Light geynes make heuy purses.
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.
b. Deficient in weight (‘too light’); below the standard or legal weight.
1589. Nottingham Rec., IV. 226. For chaungeinge of fowre light French Crownes.
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.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 115. Light Gold taken for merchandises sold.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 947. All Clipt and Light Money was called in.
1727. Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., This Guinea is light.
1869. Tennyson, Holy Grail, 26. For good ye are and bad, and like to coins, Some true, some light.
1887. T. E. Thorpe, in Gd. Words, 400. There is about £50,000,000 of light gold in circulation.
2. Possessing little weight in proportion to bulk; of small specific gravity. In the 17th and 18th centuries often applied to water.
1559. W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 41. It is a generall maior among Philosophers, that al light thynges contend upwarde.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. I. i. (1651), 232. Pure, thin, light water by all means use.
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.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, 383. Founders call their Ashes Lean, if they are Light; because then they have little Mettle in them.
1683. Tryon, Way to Health, vi. (1697), 100. This is the lightest of all Waters, it cools and heats quickly.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 6/1. The best Water is clear, transparent and light.
a. 1728. Woodward, Fossils, I. (1729), I. 13. The Earthy matter, that was softer and lighter, would be easily washed away.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 504. The charcoal is light and brilliant.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), I. 373. The seeds of the different grasses naturally divide themselves into light and heavy seeds.
1868. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., iii. § 10 (1879), 59. Hydrogen, the lightest gas.
1876. Harley, Mat. Med. (ed. 6), 184. Light magnesia is obtained by the same process from the light carbonate of magnesia.
absol. a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. xi. § 1. 309. Æqually compounded of Light, and Heauie.
† 3. In comparative: Delivered (of a child).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8593. On a night bath lighter war þai.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 310. On wherfe þer scho was & lighter of a sonne.
c. 1560. in Depos. Rebell. 1569 (Surtees), 61. The morrow after the said Charles wyf was lighter.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 138. Our quene is instantlie lychter of a bony barne.
a. 1783. Willie’s Lady, viii. in Child, Ballads, I. 86. Of her young bairn she’ll neer be lighter.
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).
1602. in Rec. Convent. R. Burghs (1870), II. 133. Quither the schip be laydnit or licht.
c. 1630. Milton, On the University Carrier, 22. He di’d for heavines that his Cart went light.
1665. Lond. Gaz., No. 11/1. The Norwich sent in one of near Three hundred Tuns, a light Ship.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3968/1. The Privateer being light and clean, came up with her about 4 in the afternoon.
1729. Moreton, Apparit., 213. The Ship was sent light as they call it to Virginia for a loading of tobacco.
1794. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 220. To allow light Swedes to leave the Port of Leghorn.
1835. Mech. Mag., XXII. 275. When the vessel is light, the speed of the wheels is increased.
1854. Dickens, Hard T., II. i. 135. A deaf serving-woman, and the light porter completed Mrs. Sparsit’s empire.
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.
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.
1881. M. Reynolds, Engine-Driving Life, 111. A ‘light engine’—a phrase in railway circles that means an engine alone, without a train.
b. fig. or in figurative context.
1768. Hume, Balance of Power, Ess. 198. The Athenians always threw themselves into the lighter scale, and endeavoured to preserve the balance.
a. 1774. Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), I. 321. Laden with years, and so extremely light of honesty, that [etc.].
5. Chiefly Mil. Lightly armed or equipped. † Also, lightly clad. Light marching order (see quot. 1825). Also LIGHT HORSE, HORSEMAN.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 15. Al light for somer rood this worthy man.
1600. Holland, Livy, VII. x. 255. A light footmans shield he takes unto him.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., III. iii. (1810), 527. Captaine Taffes troop of Horse with certaine light foote were sent from the campe.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xviii. II. 111. He was overtaken … by a party of light cavalry.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 305. His Majesty’s 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons.
1813. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., X. 527. I shall be with the Light division in the morning.
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.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, xx. III. 161. To send a body of Thracian cavalry and light troops to the aid of the Athenians.
1846. Greener, Sci. Gunnery, 393. Carbines, for some light infantry regiments.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, xxviii. 2. Starving company, troop of hungry Piso, Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xvi. 265. The legions had come light, without tents or baggage.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 49. To travel in America one must travel light.
6. Of a vehicle or vessel: Lightly constructed; adapted for light loads and for swift movement. Light cart = ‘spring cart’ (see CART sb. 3).
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. § 19. Hy habbað swyðe lytle scypa & swyðe leohte.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., I. (1599), 28. It contayned xxxv. light or suttle gallies.
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.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, VII. i. The arrival of a first-rate light coach in a country town.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 480. Light vessels sent out by the English admiral for the purpose of obtaining intelligence.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. xiii. My Lord Mohun sent to London for a light chaise he had.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, III. i. 15. You had better go in the light cart.
7. Of a building: Having an appearance suggestive of lightness; graceful and elegant in form.
1762. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1765), II. i. 37, note. One of the lightest and most beautiful parish churches I have seen.
1818. [see HEAVY a. 15].
1837. Penny Cycl., VII. 218/1. Unless [etc.] … such timber model would have given rise to a much lighter style of architecture.
1850. Gloss. Archit. (ed. 5), 439. Small light spires.
II. Having the operation or properties of things of little physical weight.
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.
a. 1000. Widsith, 72 (Gr.). Se hæfde moncynnes … leohteste hond.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 220. Uour dolen, þus todeled—uondunge liht & derne—uondunge liht & openliche—uondunge strong & derne—uondunge strong & openliche.
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.
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.
1765. Foote, Commissary, II. Wks. 1799, II. 22. There are risings and sinkings … as light as a cork.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xii. Ellena fled with lighter steps along the alley.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, I. iv. 51. The lightest of her shriller tones made itself heard.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xxvii. A tedious passage, from baffling and light winds.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, v. § 8. 144. A painter’s light execution of a background.
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.
1863. Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, 16. Though her hand be airy light Of touch.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. lxii. 229. His light walk.
1885. Law Times Rep., LIII. 54/1. There was a light breeze from about S.W. by S.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 413. Intercurrent inflammations should be treated on general principles but with a light hand.
1901. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 5 Jan., 8. When the extent of the cardiac dulness has been determined by careful light percussion [etc.].
9. Having little density, tenacity, or cohesive force. Of soil: Friable, porous, workable. Of a cloud: Fleecy, vaporous, evanescent.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 4. They [wheel-ploughs] be good on euen grounde that lyeth lyghte.
1707. Mortimer, Husb., 106. The common sort of white Pea doth best in a light Land that is somewhat rich.
1806. Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2), 262. The district of Glenlivet is remarkably fertile, the soil being a light loam.
1816. Byron, Siege Cor., xxi. There is a light cloud by the moon.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 60. Sand … generally prevails to the amount of one half in light soils.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxvii. 208. Some of the lighter clouds doubled round the summit of the mountain.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 606. A dull roar which made the light friable earth quiver under our feet.
b. Of bread, pastry, etc.: That has ‘risen’ properly, not ‘heavy’ or dense.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 339. Þan take youre loof of light payne.
1578. Bullein, Dial. (1888). 51. Eate light leauened breade.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, i. 20. The fourth property is, that it [bread] be light, and somewhat open.
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.
1864. Mrs. Stowe, House & Home Papers, x. (1865), 112. Bread: What ought it to be? It should be light, sweet, and tender.
c. 1895. N. Midl. School Cookery Bk., 44. To make a light dough.
10. Of food or drink: That does not lie heavy on the stomach; easy of digestion. Of wine, beer, etc.: Containing little alcohol.
c. 1000. Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 282/6. Melle dulci, leoht beor.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 122. Drince leoht wyn.
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.
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?’
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 9. A light repaste, suche as the bodie maye easyly and without incommoditee awaye withall.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, iii. 69. The lights are of light digestion.
1693. Congreve, Dryden’s Juvenal, XI. 128. Apples … Mellow’d by Winter, from their cruder Juice, Light of Digestion now, and fit for Use.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 82. Don Diego took a light Supper.
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.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., I. xi. The little family were assembled at the last and lightest meal of the day.
1880. McCarthy, Own Times, III. xli. 238. The light wines of Bordeaux began to be familiar to almost every table.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 418. Rice and sago and such like puddings are not light or easily digestible foods.
1898. J. Hutchinson, in Arch. Surg., IX. 316. Beer, which you would think was lighter [than stout].
11. Light in the mouth (of a horse): sensitive to the bit. (Cf. HEAVY a. 11.)
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.
1884. E. L. Anderson, Mod. Horsemanship, I. iv. 11. The beginner should be mounted upon a quiet horse that is light in the mouth.
12. Of a syllable: Unemphatic, of little weight or sonorousness. Hence, of rhythm, consisting largely of such syllables.
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.
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.
III. Of little gravity or moment.
13. Of small importance or consequence, not weighty; slight, trivial. Of a sin: Venial.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., lxii. (heading), Ðætte hwilum ða leohtan scylda bioð beteran to forlætenne.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23021. Þai þat has bot sinnes light sal clengid be.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxiv. 4. Godis wayes he calles his lightere biddyngis.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1424. Light harmes Let ouer-passe.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (Gibbs MS.), lf. 100. Presume not to blaber aȝenst oure goddes by lythe repreef.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxii. 51. I grant my seruice is bot licht.
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.
1570. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 8. I made but smal & liht account of mi fellowship.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 51. Proscribing … whole families together, yea and that for light occasions.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 308. Not only all evil doing, but even the lightest suspicions thereof.
1742. Collins, Ode Poet. Char., 1. If not with light regard, I read aright that gifted bard.
1753. N. Torriano, Gangr. Sore Throat, 89. The Disease began with a light Shivering.
1772. Junius Lett., lxviii. 338. This is no light matter.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 161. Against the lighter vices the ruling faction waged war.
1866. B. North, Yes or No! xii. 269. It was what the world calls a venial or light sin.
1871. Smiles, Charac., i. (1876), 25. They will be held in light esteem by other nations.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 476. Windy tumidities … and therewith light diarrhœas are often associated.
† b. Of small value, cheap. Of a price: LOW. Also light cheap = CHEAP a. and adv. (Cf. CHEAP sb. 8, 9.) Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 246. This Rescamiraduk … His letter gan rebuk, sette it at light prise.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., ii. 236. That cam hym full light chepe.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 158. Thare come ane laithles leid air to this place, With ane girdill ourgilt, and vthir light gere.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings x. 15. Al that sold light wares.
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.
† c. Of persons: Not commanding respect by position or character; of small account. Obs.
1529. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 175/1. I might by a light person somtime knowe a muche more substanciall man.
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.
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.
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.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), Z vj. Nor set at light a childes yeeres and age.
1547. Homilies, I. Fear Death, II. (1859), 98. Let us not set at light the chastising of the Lord.
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.
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.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Sacrifice, xx. Herod and all his bands do set me light.
1642. J. Eaton, Honey-c. Free Justif., 240. Thereby the words of the Scripture may be extenuated and set light of.
1771. Wesley, Wks. (1872), V. 317. It is no other than betraying him … to set light by any part of his law.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. xxiii. Light I held his prophecy.
(b) To make light of: to treat, consider or represent as of small or no importance.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxii. 5. They made light of it and went their wayes.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xiii. Or if he be stungen he maketh lite of it and shortly forgetteth it.
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.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 311. The Natives make light of such things as we call Colds.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. i. Wks. 1874, I. 170. How great presumption it is, to make light of any institutions of Divine appointment.
1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 236. A Barber-Surgeon was called to her, who made very light of it [a slight wound].
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, I. xvi. 116. Making light of what ought to be serious.
1898. H. Calderwood, Hume, iii. 31. A tendency to make light of renson.
14. Characterized by levity, frivolous, unthinking. Const. † of.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 106. Þeos lufsume lefdi … ne luuede heo nane lihte plohen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3285. Ne was sco not o letes light. Ibid., 28568. Laghter light þat cums of gle.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3346. Sum dros of syn, Als light speche, or thoght in vayn.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 112. Licht men and vauerand.
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.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 256/2. A monke moche Joly and lyght of his lyuyng.
1536. R. Beerley, Lett. to Ld. Cromwell, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. xxxv. 257. Lyzth and foolish ceremonies made … [by] lyzth and undiscrete faders.
1554. T. Martin, Treat. Marriage Priestes, Ll iij. Being (as some were), light braines, runnagates, vnthriftes and riotours.
1571. Grindal, Injunct. York, I. § 1. Being circumspect, that you offende no man eyther by light behauiour or by light apparell.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, I. viii. (1660), 45. If light eares incline to light lips, harm ensueth.
1631. Sanderson, Serm., II. 3. A sober grave matron … will never be light and garish.
1641. Vind. Smectymnuus, 31. It never came into our thoughts to use a light expression.
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?
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 27. 176. Publick Faith is now commonly talked of in the lightest manner.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, IV. xxxv. 245. The light wretch’s as light expression.
1823. Scott, Peveril, x. The disposition of the young Earl was lighter and more volatile than that of Julian.
1834. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (1837), I. xxiii. 354. That light perpetual talk about him.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, III. 319. I wrote tales beside … To suit light readers.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 58. They speak of friends in no light or trivial manner.
1882. Stevenson, New Arab. Nts. (1901), 86/2. I made some light rejoinder.
b. Of persons (chiefly of women) and their behavior: Wanton, unchaste.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxv. (Thadee), 3. Thadee … licht women wes & richt brukil of hyre flesche.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 144. Vntrewe men and light women of body.
1581. Lyly, Euphues, To Schollers Oxf. (Arb.), 208. Did not Iupiters egge bring forth … Helen a light huswife.
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.
1826. Scott, Woodst., iii. Lewd men and light women.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, II. v. 82. For nought beside vain dalliance cared they, And their light folly was before our eyes.
1895. T. Hardy, Jude the Obscure, II. vi. 144. Jude … found the room full of … soldiers … and light women.
IV. Having the quick action that results from lightness.
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.
a. 1000. Phœnix, 317 (Gr.). He [se fuʓel] is snel and swift & swiþe leoht.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 13. Þat man be waker, and liht, and snel.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9277. Welssemen … þat liȝte were & hardi.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3730. Moght i not be sua light o fote.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 56. Fiff hundreth armyt weill in steill, That on licht horss war [horsyt] weill.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 577/14. Currax, lyght to renne.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. ix. 130. Syr Accolon lost not a dele of blood, therfor he waxt passynge lyghte.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cxxi. 102. He was so lyght of fote that men callyd hym comenlych harold hare foote.
1508. Dunbar, Thistle & Rose, 95. Lusty of schaip, lycht of deliuerance.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 213 b. That diverse persones havyng light horses, should skoure the countrey.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iii. 70. To dance that nycht thay said sho sould not slak, With leggis lycht to hald the wedow walkane.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., IV. 54. He that was in the watch, saued himself with a light paire of heeles.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 205. Too light for such a swaine as you to catch.
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.
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.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., Among Astrologers, a Planet is said To be light, i. e. nimble, compared to another that moves slower.
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.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. ix. 25. Well coloured was she, tall and debonair, And light and very swift.
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.)
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1062. Þer to icham al liȝt.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. xviii. 14. The spirit forsothe liȝt to wrathen.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1699, Lucrece. He was lyght of tunge.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1229. He … Launches euyn to Lamydon with a light wille.
1483. Caxton, Cato, C vij b. For euery man oughte to be lyght to heeryng and slowe to speke.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. ii. 57. Set in stead of that man, licht as lynd, Ouder a cloud or a waist puft of wynd.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxiii. 32. The kyng, who gaue lyght credence to thaym causedde his vncle … to be beheeded.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 40 b. Be not lyght to byleue euery spiryte.
a. 1529. Skelton, Dethe Erle Northumberlande, 175. Be not lyght of credence in no case.
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.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 6. The Lyon, lyght of credite, forthwith ranne upon the wolfe and slewe hym.
c. 1570. Foxe, Serm. 2 Cor. v. 52. Some … use to giue light eare to such whisperers.
1576. Turberv., Bk. Venerie, 174. When hounds are hunted with in this sorte, they become so light of beliefe that [etc.].
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 367. To whom the chast Matron gaue light credence.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 80. At this exaction … the light Constantinopolitans grievously murmured.
1627. trans. Bacon’s Life & Death (1651), 56. A young man is light and moveable, an old man more grave and constant.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VII. 410. Were he not to have been so light of belief.
1853. M. Arnold, Scholar-Gipsy, xviii. We Light half-believers of our casual creeds.
1890. Lecky, Eng. in 18th C., VII. 46. A light man, in whom no person can place any confidence.
V. That weighs or presses but little on the powers, senses or feelings.
17. Easy to bear or endure. Of an expense or impost: Easy to pay. (Cf. HEAVY a. 23.)
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. x. 15. Lihtro bið tuoeʓe burgas in dæʓ domes ðon ðær ceastre.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xi. 30. Min byrþyn is leoht.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 958. My burþene [is] liȝt i-nouh to beren.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 521. Luff … all paynys maks licht.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 17. Ȝif þou wolt haue it a-forsyd with lyȝt coste, Take milk [etc.].
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.
1562. Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, iii. Wks. 1888, I. 23. The office of all potestatis is lycht to thaim and plesand to the subiectis.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 33. The paine, that is now present, schort and licht.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. vi. 115 (Qos. 1608). How light and portable my paine seemes now!
1611. Bible, 1 Kings xii. 4. Make thou … his heauy yoke which he put vpon us, lighter.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), II. 126. The afflictions of this present life will seem light.
1800–24. Campbell, Martial Elegy, iii. Deeming light the cost Of life itself in glorious battle lost.
1882. B. D. W. Ramsay, Recoll. Mil. Serv., I. iv. 74. All that we had endured was light compared to the discomfort on board.
1896. Mrs. Caffyn, Quaker Grandmother, 226. Your seeing me has been no light punishment.
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.)
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 342. Hy habbaþ þas þe leohtran gang.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 312. It is strong to stonde longe, and liht it is to falle hard.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4500. Acc witt tu þatt itt niss nohht lihht To betenn hefiȝ sinne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 428. Þe leaue beo liht in alle þeo þinges þer nis sunne.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., Prol. (1810), Pref. 99. In symple speche … Þat is lightest in manne’s mouthe.
1340. Ayenb., 99. Liȝt to zigge an sotil to onderstonde.
a. 1375. Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. iv. 78. Þe nexte þing to here, And þe lihtest for to lere.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. Ful lihte rewles.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 229. Glandule comeþ þe most part of fleume, & ben liȝter to resolue.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 304/1. Lyght of knowing or werking, facilis.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xvii. 100. It is liȝt for to answere.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 7. Yt is not lyght for euery man to drawe eny longe thyng from latyn into oure Englyshe tongue.
a. 1555. Philpot, Exam. & Writ. (Parker Soc.), 335. It is not more lighter for him to slide and fall.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 451. Least too light winning Make the prize light.
a. 1700. Dryden, Theod. & Hon., 247. Well pleas’d were all his Friends, The Task was light.
1788. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 186. The service will be light and easy.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Demerara, i. 7. Invalids who were sufficiently recovered to do light work.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 123. To keep down the English people was no light task even for that army.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 239. I cannot promise you that the task will be a light one.
† b. Phrase. Of light [trans. OF. de legier]: lightly, easily. Obs.
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.
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.)
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 150. Madrigals, Canzonets, and such like light musicke.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. vii. (Rtldg.), 355. The library abounded in romances. Don Cæsar seemed to give the preference to that light reading.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, xviii. III. 79. Æschylus was accounted no less a master of the light than of the serious drama.
1849. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 40. Light reading does not do when the heart is really heavy.
1878. Browning, Poets of Croisic, xcv. From out your desk Hand me some lighter sample.
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.
1885. W. C. Day, Behind Footlights, 118. The light comedian will complete the list of our company.
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.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw. (1890), III. iii. 604. What may be called the lighter ornamental style, such as the after-dinner speech.
20. Of sleep: Not oppressive to the bodily sense; easily shaken off. Hence also light sleeper.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., V. ix. (1890), 410. Me liht slep oferorn.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., Evening, xiii. Be every mourner’s sleep to-night, Like infant’s slumbers, pure and light.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxxviii. I am a light sleeper; and it’s better to be up than lying awake.
1894. Hon. Emily Lawless, Maelcho, II. ii. 21. A man who at all times was a light sleeper.
VI. 21. Free from the weight of care or sorrow; cheerful, merry. Obs. exc. in light heart. † Also glad and light, etc. † Const. of.
13[?]. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 239. Þou waxist heui þat was wel lit.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 77. They mote singen and be light.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1411. All þere lordes were light þat þai lyffe hade.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5332. Ȝit be liȝt & lete of þi sorowe.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, I. x. (1554), 21 b. The people were full glad and lyght.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 448. He was so light Of hir talking and of hir sight.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxvii. 23. Na ferly thocht his hart wes licht.
1778. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 23 Aug. I have rarely seen a very rich man with a light heart and light spirits.
1844. A. Welby, Poems (1867), 1. When my heart was as light as a blossom in June.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 55. Now my heart is light again, and I Could laugh like children at a pantomime.
1893. F. Adams, New Egypt, 146. He broke into a light laugh.
VII. 22. Of the head: Dizzy, giddy. Also of persons: Wandering in mind, delirious = LIGHT-HEADED 1 (now dial.: see Eng. Dial. Dict.).
[Cf. sense 16; but there appears to be here a reference to a subjective sensation of physical levity.]
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?
1662. R. Mathew, Unl. Alch., § 89. 141. He … continued very light eight dayes.
1791. J. Learmont, Poems, 8. Light grew her head, her breast did beat.
Mod. (Donegal) ‘He’s a bit light at the full and the change’ (H. C. Hart).
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.
1823. Crabb, Technol. Dict., *Light-bellied, an epithet for a horse that has flat, narrow, and contracted sides.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2136/4. A white sanded gray Mare … *light-bodied.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., V. ii. (1598), H 2 b. The proud corrupters of the *light-brained king.
1870. T. W. Higginson, Army Life in Black Regim., 169. We could then ascend the smaller stream with two *light-draft boats.
1897. Daily News, 3 March, 5/2. Eight light-draught steamers for special service.
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.
1845. G. Murray, Islaford, 37. There was a *light-heart briskness in the air.
1812. Examiner, 7 Sept., 563/2. *Light-land wheat, almost everywhere good.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1622), 87. *Light-legged Pas had got the middle space.
1888. M. Morris, Claverhouse, x. 186. His men were no match for the active *light-marching Highlanders.
1884. E. A. Anderson, Mod. Horsemanship, v. 18. It is dangerous to have a severe bit upon a *light-mouthed horse.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 263. Its *light-pointed roof, its clustered chimneys.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 205. Swift is’t [the water of the Kent] in pace, *light-poiz’d, to looke in cleere.
1876. Humphreys, Coin Coll. Man., xxiv. 326. A *light-robed female presenting her hand to three soldiers.
a. 1758. Ramsay, Some of the Contents, vii. *Licht skirted lasses, and the girnand wyfe.
1607. R. C[arew], trans. Estienne’s World of Wonders, 101. *Light skirtednesse and leuitie.
1600. J. Lane, Tom Tel-troth (1876), 133. *Light-taylde huswiues.
1777. R. Potter, Æschylus, Prometheus chain’d, 26. Unfruitfull labour and *light-thoughted folly.
1683. Lond. Gaz., No. 1871/4. A *light timbered bright bay Gelding.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Light-timbered, light-limbed; active and alert.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xvii. To keep *light-tongued companions out of the way.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 269. *Light-wing’d Toyes Of feather’d Cupid seele with wanton dulnesse My … offic’d Instrument.
1763. Mason, Sonn. to Earl Holdernesse, 6. Here, as the light wing’d moments glide serene.
1577. H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk. (1868), 82. For *lyght-witted or dronken, sure, men will name thee in talke.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 86. A foolish light witted fellow.
