Slight | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Slight, a.

adjective

(slīt), a. [compar. SLIGHTER; superl. SLIGHT-EST.] [Goth. slaihts, smooth, even; O. H. Ger. sleht, smooth, simple; Icel. sléttr, Sw. slät, Dan. slet, O. Fries. sliucht, L. Ger. sligt, D. slecht, N. H. Ger. schlicht, schlecht.]

Sense 1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; weak; gentle;—applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable) structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain, and the like. “At one slight bound.” Milton.

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise. Pope.

Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. Locke.

Sense 2. Not stout or heavy; slender. “His own figure, which was formerly so slight.” W. Scott.

Sense 3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras.

Slight, n.

noun

(slīt), n. 1. A moderate degree of contempt, manifested chiefly by neglect or oversight; neglect; disregard; scorn. 2. The same as SLEIGHT. See SLEIGHT. Spenser. Syn.—Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn.

Slight, adv.

adverb

Slightly. [Obs. or Poet.] Think not so slight of glory. Milton.

Slight, v. t.

verbtransitive

(slĭt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. SLIGHTED; p. pr. & vb. n. SLIGHTING.]

Sense 1. To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; as, to slight the divine commands, or the offers of mercy.

Sense 2. [L. Ger. sligten, D. slechten, to level, to demolish; O. H. Ger. slihtan, N. H. Ger. schlichten.] To overthrow; to demolish. [Obs.] Clarendon.

Sense 3. To throw; to cast. [Obs.]

The rogues slighted me into the river. Shak.

To slight off, to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. [Rare.]—To slight over, to run over in haste; to perform superficially; to treat carelessly; as, to slight over a theme.

Synonyms—To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn.—SLIGHT, NEGLECT. To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsideration, or from being over-occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer.

Beware

Lest they transgress and slight that sole command. Milton.

This my long-suffering and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton.