Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈlɛ.vɪ.ti/
Pronunciation notes
- UK
- US
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ˈlɛ.vɪ.ti
Noun
A lightness of manner or speech, frivolity; flippancy; a lack of appropriate seriousness; an inclination to make a joke of serious matters.
Usage- Uncountable
- usually
- Antonyms
- Examples
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An attempt to inject a little levity into the proceedings.
A lack of steadiness.
Usage- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- usually
The state or quality of being light, buoyancy.
Usage- Uncountable
- usually
- Examples
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Most of the confidences were unsought - frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation or a hostile levity […]
[…]it would really seem as if there was something nomadic in our natures, a principle of levity and restlessness […]
More examples (1)
Hydrogen […] rises in the air on account of its levity.
A lighthearted or frivolous act.
Usage- Countable
- usually
- Examples
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More examples (1)
For though it be something wonderful to tell that any should have hearts so hardened, in the midst of such a calamity, as to rob and steal, yet certain it is that all sorts of villainies, and even levities and debaucheries, were then practiced in the town as openly as ever: I will not say quite as frequently, because the number of people were many ways lessened.
[…] or do the people joy less than common in their levities?"
His incorrigible levities had probably lost him the countenance of most of his more serious acquaintances[…
Noun
feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
a manner lacking seriousness
- Broader terms