Middle English Dictionary Entry
slight adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | slight adj. Also sliȝt, sliht, sleght, sleȝt, sleight, sleiȝte, sleith & (in surnames) slit, sleȝ. |
| Etymology | ?ON: cp. OI slēttr (from *sleht, Proto Gmc. *slihta-); also cp. OE: cp. eorþ-slihtes level with the ground. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Flat, smooth; also, hairless; ~ ston, a stone used for smoothing, a sleekstone [cp. slike-ston n.]; (b) unimportant, trivial; (c) of poor quality, flimsy; (d) slender; (e) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4562 : Me thoght in drem..þat i com in a medu slight [Frf: sliȝt; Göt: sliht].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)3490 : Þe firste born was rowȝe of hare, þe oþere childe sleiȝte [Göt: sleyth] & bare.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)3661 : Þou wate my hide ys sleȝt and bare and esau ys rughe wiþ hare.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)115b : A Slyght [Monson: Sleght] stone: lamina, limatorium.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in Centaurus 12 (Lnsd 793)226/5478 : Fro þe firste time of Adam Til þe time of Noe cam Was neuere hil ne roche wiþ-al But as sleight aboute as a bal.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26391 : Þai [hypocrites] leue þe grettes plight be-hind, Bileues þe heui, and sceues þe light þat ruffeld es for to ma slight [Frf: to make sliȝt].
c
- (1393-4) RParl.3.322b : Dont les Leyns cressantz es ditz Countees sont unes maneres des Leyns appellez sleght wolle.
d
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)190 : Þat gracios gay wythouten galle, So smoþe, so smal, so seme slyȝt.
e
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1049 : Rado Slytbody.
- (1313) Pat.R.Edw.II65 : John Sleghtheved.
- (1317) *in Pilkington Surn. : Slethheved.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10174 : Simone Sleȝbody.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)4a/b : Amechon [Pep: Ameton]: a chylkestone [Pep: a slyke stone].
Note: New form from the Add 24640 manuscript (sligh-), but the Add 24640 manuscript needs to be quoted instead of the Stnh A.1.10.
Note: If the Add manuscript quot. is taken, it belongs to sense (a); if not, this supplement entry can be dropped.--notes per MLL