- slight´ness
- slight «slyt», adjective, verb, noun.–adj.1. not much; not important; small: »
I have a slight headache. One slice of bread is a slight lunch. I hardly felt that slight scratch. Therefore I am glad to take this slight occasion—this trifling occasion... (Dickens).
SYNONYM(S): inconsiderable, trivial, trifling.–v.t.to pay too little attention to; treat as of little value or importance; neglect: »This maid slights her work. She felt slighted because she was not asked to the party.
–n.an act showing neglect or lack of respect; slighting treatment shown to one who expects courtesy and friendliness: »Cinderella suffered many slights from her sisters. ... thwarted or stung by a fancied slight (Bret Harte).
╂[Middle English slight, perhaps Old English -sliht level, as in eorthslihtes level with the ground]–slight´ness, noun.Synonym Study transitive verb. Slight, overlook, neglect mean to pay too little attention to someone or something needing or deserving it. Slight emphasizes intentionally doing so: »to slight one's homework.
Overlook emphasizes unintentionally doing so: »While reviewing our budget, we overlooked the telephone bill.
Neglect emphasizes doing so because of indifference, distaste, or laziness: »He regularly neglects brushing his teeth before going to bed.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.