slight

n. Sleight. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Slighter superl. Slightest. ] [ OE. sli&unr_;t, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. sl&unr_;ttr smooth, Sw. slät, Goth. slaíhts; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not stout or heavy; slender. [ 1913 Webster ]

His own figure, which was formerly so slight. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. D. slechten to level, to demolish. ] 1. To overthrow; to demolish. [ Obs. ] Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make even or level. [ Obs. ] Hexham. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw heedlessly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The rogue slighted me into the river. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slighting. ] To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

To slight off, to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. [ R. ] --
To slight over, to run over in haste; to perform superficially; to treat carelessly; as, to slight over a theme. “They will but slight it over.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. -- Slight, Neglect. To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsiderateness, or from being over-occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beware . . . lest the like befall . . .
If they transgress and slight that sole command. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace,
Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Slightly. [ Obs. or Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Think not so slight of glory. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To slight. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who slights. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Sleightful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]