Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
lightness en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English lightnes, lightnesse, from Old English līhtnes, lȳhtnys (“enlightening, illumination”), from Proto-West Germanic *liuhtinassī; equivalent to light (“to make bright, illuminate”, verb) + -ness (suffix forming nouns). Cognate with Old High German liuhtnissi (“illumination, enlightening”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) the condition of being illuminated
Well, darkness has a hunger that's insatiable
and lightness has a call that's hard to hear.
1989 February 28, Emily Saliers, “Closer to Fine”, in Indigo Girls, performed by Indigo Girls:
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(uncountable) the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour
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(countable) The product of being illuminated.
Forms
Translations (14)
bg светлост (the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour) · sh osvijetljenost (the condition of being illuminated) · fi valoisuus (the condition of being illuminated) · es luminosidad (the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour) · bg осветеност (the condition of being illuminated) · pt luminosidade (the condition of being illuminated) · pt claridade (the condition of being illuminated) · fr luminosité (the condition of being illuminated) · es claridad (the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour) · ru освещённость (the condition of being illuminated) · vo klil (the condition of being illuminated) · fr clarté (the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour) · ka განათებულობა (the condition of being illuminated) · fi vaaleus (the relative whiteness or transparency of a colour)
lightness en · NOUN · etymology 2
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English lightnes, lightnesse, from Old English *lēohtnes (“lightness”) (compare Old English lēohtmōdnes (“lightness”, literally “light-moodedness”), līhtingnes (“lightness, alleviation”)); equivalent to light (“not heavy”, adjective) + -ness (suffix forming nouns). Cognate with Middle Low German luchtnisse, lüchtnisse (“lightness, frivolity, joyfulness”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) The state of having little (or less) weight, or little force.
The unique chassis design is largely the secret of the lightness of the locomotive.
1960 January, “The Swindon Type "4" diesel-hydraulic units”, in Trains Illustrated, page 39:
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(uncountable) Agility of movement.
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(uncountable) Freedom from worry.
In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.
1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266:
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(uncountable) Levity, frivolity; inconsistency.
And if the sudden and unannounced arrival of Miss Melhuish at "The Turrets" contained any element of surprise for him, his habitual imperturbability enabled him to pass it off with disarming lightness.
1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:Seneca […] accounts it a filthy lightness in men, every day to lay new foundations of their life, but who doth otherwise?
, New York 2001, p.75
Forms
Translations (18)
ky жеңилдик (the state of having little weight) · sh lakoća (the state of having little weight) · bg пъргавост (Agility of movement) · cy ysgafnder (the state of having little weight) · bg подвижност (Agility of movement) · tr hafiflik (the state of having little weight) · it leggerezza (the state of having little weight) · bg лекота (the state of having little weight) · es liviandad (the state of having little weight) · ru лёгкость (the state of having little weight) · fr légèreté (the state of having little weight) · eo leĝereco (Agility of movement) · la levitās (the state of having little weight) · ka სიმსუბუქე (the state of having little weight) · fi keveys (the state of having little weight) · ca lleugeresa (the state of having little weight) · ar خِفَّة (the state of having little weight) · eo frivoleco (levity, frivolity; inconsistency)