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levity definition

lev·ity (lev′i tē)

noun pl. levities -·ties

  1. Rare lightness of weight; buoyancy
  2. lightness or gaiety of disposition, conduct, or speech; esp., improper or unbecoming gaiety or flippancy; lack of seriousness; frivolity
  3. fickleness; instability

Etymology: OFr levité < L levitas < levis, light

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

levity Synonyms

levity

n.

flippancy, high spirits, giddiness; see frivolity, happiness 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

levity Usage Examples

Preposition: into

  • proceeding: Anyway her version of ' My Favorite Things ' was another attempt to inject some levity into the proceedings.

Converse of object

  • inject: Anyway her version of ' My Favorite Things ' was another attempt to inject some levity into the proceedings.

Adjective modifier

  • little: The satin underwear thing came about as the result of her trying to inject a little levity into the proceedings at the first interview.
levity usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

levity quotes

I came to the conclusion that some more ascetic reason than mere enjoyment should be found if one wishes to travel in peace: to do things for fun smacks of levity, immoralityalmost, in our utilitarian world. And though personally I think the world is wrong, and I know in my heart of hearts that it is a most excellent reason to do things merely because one likes the doing of them, I would advise all those who wish to see unwrinkled brows in passport offices to start out ready labelled as entomologists, anthropologists, or whatever other - ology they think suitable and propitious.

-Stark, Dame Freya Madeleine

levity quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"levity." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/levity>

APA Style

levity. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/levity

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