Levity

From Nordan Symposia
Jump to navigationJump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Lighterstill.jpg

Levity.jpg

Origin

Old French levité = Italian levità, < Latin levitātem, levitās, < levis light

Definitions

a. Want of serious thought or reflexion; frivolity.
b. Incapacity for lasting affection, resolution, or conviction; heedlessness in making and breaking promises; instability, fickleness, inconstancy.
c.‘Light’ or undignified behavior; unbecoming freedom of conduct (said esp. of women); an instance of this.
d. Lightness (of spirit), freedom from care. Obs.

1631 John Donne Serm. (1959) IV. 83 To what a blessed levity, (if without levity we may so speake) to what a cheerefull lightnesse of spirit is he come, that comes newly from Confession.

Antonym