Levity

From Nordan Symposia
Jump to navigationJump to search

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