Lightest

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), a. [AS. le['i]ht. See {Light}, n.]
     [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. {Lightest}.]
     1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the
        apartment is light.
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     2. White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a
        deep shade; moderately colored; as, a light color; a light
        brown; a light complexion.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Light \Light\, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl.
     {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[imac]ht, le['i]ht; akin
     to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[imac]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan.
     let, Sw. l[aum]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf.
     {Levity}), Gr. 'elachy`s small, Skr. laghu light. [root]125.]
     1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not
        tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
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              These weights did not exert their natural gravity, .
              . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light
              or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. --Addison.
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     2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by
        physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
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              Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is
              easy, and my burden is light.         --Matt. xi.
                                                    29, 30.
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     3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not
        difficult; as, a light affliction or task. --Chaucer.
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              Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.
                                                    --Dryden.
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     4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as,
        light food; also, containing little nutriment.
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     5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light
        troops; a troop of light horse.
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     6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments;
        hence, active; nimble; swift.
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              Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . .
              but not always best subjects, for they are light to
              run away.                             --Bacon.
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     7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently
        ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
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     8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. --Shak.
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     9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
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     10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as,
         a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
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     11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
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     12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy,
         graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light
         style of execution.
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     13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced
         by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled;
         volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
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               There is no greater argument of a light and
               inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at
               religion.                            --Tillotson.
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     14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or
         solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
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               Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.
                                                    --Shak.
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               Specimens of New England humor laboriously light
               and lamentably mirthful.             --Hawthorne.
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     15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged;
         dizzy; giddy.
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               Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?
                                                    --Shak.
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     16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
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               To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.
                                                    --Spenser.
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     17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
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               A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
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     18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped;
         diminished; as, light coin.
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     19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
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     {Light cavalry}, {Light horse} (Mil.), light-armed soldiers
        mounted on strong and active horses.
  
     {Light eater}, one who eats but little.
  
     {Light infantry}, infantry soldiers selected and trained for
        rapid evolutions.
  
     {Light of foot}.
         (a) Having a light step.
         (b) Fleet.
  
     {Light of heart}, gay, cheerful.
  
     {Light oil} (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water,
        forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal
        tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene.
  
     {Light sails} (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails,
        with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. --Dana.
  
     {Light sleeper}, one easily wakened.
  
     {Light weight}, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey,
        who is below a standard medium weight. Cf. {Feather
        weight}, under {Feather}. [Cant]
  
     {To make light of}, to treat as of little consequence; to
        slight; to disregard.
  
     {To set light by}, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of
        no importance; to despise.
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