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Added 9 October 2026

lightness

/ˈlaɪtnəs/ noun

In Latin: levitās Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about lightness at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A feeling of joy and pride.
The property of being comparatively small in weight.
the lightness of balsa wood
The gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble.

Origin

From Middle English lightnes, lightnesse, from Old English līhtnes, lȳhtnys (“enlightening, illumination”), from Proto-West Germanic *liuhtinassī; equivalent to light (“to make bright, illuminate”, verb) + -ness (suffix forming nouns). Cognate with Old High German liuhtnissi (“illumination, enlightening”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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