slight

Etymology

From Middle English slight (“bad, of poor quality, unimportant, trivial, slender, slim, smooth, level”), from Old English sliht (“smooth, level”), from Proto-Germanic *slihtaz (“slippery, flat, level, plain”), related to English slick. Cognate with Scots slicht (“bad, of poor quality”), West Frisian sljocht (“smooth, level, plain, simple”), Dutch slecht (“bad”), Low German slecht (“bad”), German schlecht (“bad”) and schlicht (“plain, artless, natural”), Danish slet (“bad, evil, poor, nasty, wrong”), Swedish slät (“smooth”), Norwegian slett (“even”), Icelandic sléttur (“even, smooth, level”).

adj

1. Small.
   1. Gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful.
      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,[…]. 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
      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.
      Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. 1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding
      we made a slight mistake
      a slight pain
   4. (archaic or rare) Not far away in space or time.
      in the slight future
2. Of slender build.
   a slight but graceful woman
   his own figure, which was formerly so slight 1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak
3. (regional) Even, smooth or level.
   A slight stone
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.
   But no beast ever was so slight,For man, as for his god, to fight;They have more wit, alas! and knowThemselves and us better than so. 1859, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, Canto 1, lines 781-784
6. (regional, obsolete) Bad, of poor quality.
   1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles
7. (dated) Slighting; treating with disdain.
   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 […] 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard

verb

1. (transitive) To treat as unimportant or not worthy of attention; to make light of.
   the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies 1782, William Cowper, Truth
2. (transitive) To give lesser weight or importance to.
   Incontiguously (accent on tig; the rest of the syllables slighted) means in an incontiguous manner. 1915, Josephine Turck Baker, Correct English, volumes 16-17, page 182
3. (transitive) To treat with disdain or neglect, usually out of prejudice, hatred, or jealousy; to ignore disrespectfully.
   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. 1833, Mary Shelley, The Mortal Immortal
4. (intransitive) To act negligently or carelessly.
5. (transitive, military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
6. (obsolete, transitive) To make even or level.
   After your ground is sowne and harrowed, you shall then clotte it, sleight it, and smooth it. 1620, Gervase Markham, Farwell to Hvsbandry
7. (transitive) To throw heedlessly.

noun

1. The act of ignoring or snubbing; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.
   Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest. 1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
   But you, you're not allowed You're uninvited An unfortunate slight 1997, Alanis Morissette (lyrics and music), “Uninvited”, performed by Alanis Morissette
2. (obsolete) Sleight.