Lēv'i-ty, n.
n. [Lat. levitas, from levis, light in weight; It. levità, Pr. levitat, Sp. levedad.]
Sense 1. The want of weight in a body, compared with another that is heavier; lightness; as, the levity of a bubble. Bentley.
Sense 2. Ease; buoyancy; spirit; hence, undue elevation of spirits; frivolity; vanity.
His style . . . is equally free from levity and the stiffness which disfigures the sermons of some eminent divines. Macaulay.
Sense 3. Lightness of temper or conduct; want of due consideration; want of seriousness; disposition to trifle; inconstancy; thoughtlessness. “The Arabs, from their natural levity, being ready to deliver him up to his merciless brother.” Robertson.
The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with every thing of which it is in possession. Burke.
Synonyms—Inconstancy; thoughtlessness; unsteadiness; inconsideration; volatility; flightiness.—LEVITY, VOLATILITY, FLIGHTINESS. All these words relate to outward conduct. Levity springs from a lightness of mind which produces a disregard of the proprieties of time and place. Volatility is a degree of levity which causes the thoughts to fly from one object to another, without resting on any for a moment. Flightiness is volatility carried to an extreme which often betrays its subject into gross impropriety or weakness. Levity of deportment, of conduct, of remark; volatility of temper, of spirits; flightiness of mind or disposition.