slightとは

意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• enPR: slīt, IPA^(key): /slaɪt/
• (米国発音) IPA^(key): [sl̥l͡ɐɪʔ̚]
• 韻: -aɪt
• Homophone: sleight

形容詞

slight (comparative slighter, superlative slightest)

1. Small
   1. gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful
      • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest‎^[1]:

        Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, […] .

      give it a slight kick

      a slight hint of cinnamon

      a slight effort

      a slight (i.e. not convincing) argument

   2. not thorough; superficial

      make a slight examination

   3. trifling; unimportant; insignificant
      • 1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding

        Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.

      • 1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, OCLC 43265629, canto I:

        Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.

      we made a slight mistake

      a slight pain

   4. (archaic or rare) not far away in space or time

      in the slight future

   Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny; see also Thesaurus:tiny, Thesaurus:insignificant

2. of slender build

   a slight but graceful woman

   • 1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak

     his own figure, which was formerly so slight

   Synonyms: lithe, svelte, willowy; see also Thesaurus:slender

3. (regional) Even, smooth or level

   A slight stone

   Synonyms: flat, glassy, slick; see also Thesaurus:smooth

4. (especially said of the sea) still; with little or no movement on the surface

   The sea was slight and calm

5. (obsolete) Foolish; silly; not intellectual.
   • 1859, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, Canto 1, lines 781-784:

     But no beast ever was so slight,
     For man, as for his god, to fight;
     They have more wit, alas! and know
     Themselves and us better than so.

   Synonyms: daft, fatuous, soft in the head; see also Thesaurus:foolish

6. (regional, obsolete) Bad, of poor quality.
   • 1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings

     we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles

   Synonyms: flimsy, lousy, shoddy; see also Thesaurus:low-quality

7. (dated) Slighting; treating with disdain.
   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

     This slight way of treating both his book and his ancestors nettled little Puddock – who never himself took a liberty, and expected similar treatment – but he knew Sturk, the nature of the beast, and he only bowed grandly […]

   Synonyms: contemptuous, disdainful, scornful; see also Thesaurus:disdainful

派生語

動詞

slight (三人称単数 現在形 slights, 現在分詞 slighting, 過去形および過去分詞形 slighted)

1. (transitive) To treat as unimportant or not worthy of attention; to make light of.
   • 1782, William Cowper, Truth

     the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies

2. (transitive) To give lesser weight or importance to.
   • 1915, Josephine Turck Baker, Correct English (volumes 16-17, page 182)

     Incontiguously (accent on tig; the rest of the syllables slighted) means in an incontiguous manner.

   Synonym: belittle

   Antonyms: respect, value, esteem

3. (transitive) To treat with disdain or neglect, usually out of prejudice, hatred, or jealousy; to ignore disrespectfully.
   • 1833, Mary Shelley, The Mortal Immortal

     Though true of heart, she was somewhat of a coquette in manner; and I was jealous as a Turk. She slighted me in a thousand ways, yet would never acknowledge herself to be in the wrong. She would drive me mad with anger, and then force me to beg her pardon.

   Synonyms: contemn, despise

   Antonyms: respect, honor

4. (intransitive) To act negligently or carelessly. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
5. (transitive, military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
   • 1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “(please specify |book=I to XVI)”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the Theater, published 1707, OCLC 937919305:

     When the parliament had finished the war , they reduced and slighted most of the inland garrison

6. (obsolete, transitive) To make even or level.
   • 1620, Gervase Markham, Farwell to Hvsbandry:

     After your ground is sowne and harrowed, you shall then clotte it, sleight it, and smooth it.

7. (transitive) To throw heedlessly.
   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The Merry VViues of VVindsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene v]:

     The rogue slighted me into the river.

派生語

• slightingly

名詞

slight (複数形 slights)

1. The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

   Synonyms: ignoring, neglect, belittlement

   Antonym: respect

   • 1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

     Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.

   • 1997, Alanis Morissette (lyrics かつ music), “Uninvited”, performed by Alanis Morissette:

     But you, you're not allowed / You're uninvited / An unfortunate slight

2. (obsolete) Sleight.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938, book 6, canto 36:

     For till that stownd could never wight him harme,
     By subtilty, nor slight, nor might, nor mighty charme.

派生語

• put a slight upon

Further reading

• The Dictionary of the Scots Language
• The Dictionary of the Scots Language
• The Middle English Dictionary