slighter

2 definitions found

slighter - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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[aum]t, Goth. sla['i]hts; or uncertain origin.]
     1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable;
        unimportant; insignificant; not severe; weak; gentle; --
        applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight
        (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable)
        structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight
        (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not
        thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain,
        and the like. "At one slight bound." --Milton.
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              Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.
                                                    --Pope.
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              Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.
                                                    --Locke.
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     2. Not stout or heavy; slender.
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              His own figure, which was formerly so slight. --Sir
                                                    W. Scott.
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     3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. --Hudibras.
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  Slighter \Slight"er\, n.
     One who slights.
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