slight English · revision 6456

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=gem-pro *slihtaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /slaɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sleght, slight, originally northern, probably [[bor|non|sléttr|t=level, smooth, soft]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) or developed from Old English -sliht, level, in eorþslihtes, level with the ground,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[gem-pro|*slihtaz]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) cognate with [[osx|sliht]], [[nl|slecht|t=bad]], [[de|schlecht|t=bad]] and [[got|𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃|tr=slaihts|t=smooth]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) MWU derives it from Middle Dutch slecht, smooth, simple.^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[slick]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Smooth, sleek or glossy: before 1300 in the OED, about 1300 in Etymonline; the sense is obsolete except in dialect.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline traces the development from smooth to slim or slender, of light texture, and so weak, insubstantial or trifling (early 14th century).^(Etymonline) Small in amount is from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) German schlecht went further, from smooth and plain to bad, and the English word also meant humble in the 15th–17th centuries.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to make smooth, is from about 1300; to raze a fortification was a 17th-century sense, and to treat with indifference is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The noun, a deliberate snub, is from 1701.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – smooth, sleek.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – slender; trifling.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – small in amount.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – the verb, to treat with indifference.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1701 – the noun, a snub.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Small in degree; [[minor]]: ''a slight delay''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Slim and delicate in build.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of little importance or substance; [[trivial]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To insult by treating with disrespect or indifference; to [[snub]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An insult caused by a failure to show respect.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[slightness]]

+ * [[slightly]]

+ * [[slighter]]

+ * [[overslight]]

+ * [[slighting]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[slick]]

+ * [[sleek]]

+ * [[slim]]

+ * [[slime]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}