Ever need a fact or quotation on levity? Designed for speechwriters, journalists, writers, researchers, students, professors, teachers, historians, academics, scrapbookers, trivia buffs and word lovers, this is the largest book ever created for this single word. It represents a compilation from a variety of sources with a linguistic emphasis on anything relating to the term “levity,” including non-conventional usage and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities. The entries cover all parts of speech (noun, verb, adverb or adjective usage) as well as use in modern slang, pop culture, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This “data dump” results in many unexpected examples for levity, since the editorial decision to include or exclude terms is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under “fair use” conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. Proceeds from this book are used to expand the content and coverage of Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.websters-online-dictionary.org).

Familiar Quotations

Levity

That which is called dotage, is not the weak point of all old men, but only of such as are distinguished by their levity and weakness.–Cicero

Middle age is youth without levity, and age without decay.–Doris Day

Levity of behavior is the bane of all that is good and virtuous.–Lucius Annaeus Seneca

My method is to take the utmost trouble to find the right thing to say, and then to say it with the utmost levity.–George Bernard Shaw

Levity – "Fickleness"

The fickleness of the women I love is only equaled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.–George Bernard Shaw

Levity – "Flippancy"

One truth discovered, one pang of regret at not being able to express it, is better than all the fluency and flippancy in the world.–William Hazlitt

Levity – "Lightness"

I think that the film Clueless was very deep. I think it was deep in the way that it was very light. I think lightness has to come from a very deep place if it's true lightness.–Alicia Silverstone

Levity, as opposed to "Gravity"

The burdens of the world on my back lightens the world not one whit, while removing them greatly decreases my specific gravity.–Anonymous

It will free man from his remaining chains, the chains of gravity which still tie him to this planet. It will open to him the gates of heaven.–Wernher von Braun

We can lick gravity but sometimes the paperwork is overwhelming.–Wernher von Braun

• Preface iv
• Familiar Quotations 1
• Levity 1
• Levity – "Fickleness" 1
• Levity – "Flippancy" 1
• Levity – "Lightness" 1
• Levity, as opposed to "Gravity" 1
• Levity, as opposed to "Seriousness" 2
• Levity, as opposed to "Solemnity" 2
• Use in Literature 3
• Levity 3
• Levity – "Beings" 13
• Levity – "Character" 14
• Levity – "Eye" 15
• Levity – "Far" 15
• Levity – "Fickleness" 16
• Levity – "Flightiness" 16
• Levity – "Frivolities" 16
• Levity – "Great" 17
• Levity – "Lives" 18
• Levity – "Lightness" 18
• Levity – "Little" 19
• Levity – "Men" 19
• Levity – "Manner" 20
• Levity – "Think" 21
• Levity – "Tone" 23
• Levity – "Young" 23
• Levity, as opposed to "Gravity" 24
• Levity, as opposed to "Seriousness" 24
• Levity, as opposed to "Solemnity" 25
• Nonfiction Usage 26
• Script Usage 26
• Bible Usage 26
• Journalism Usage 26
• Patent Usage 26
• Bibliographic Usage 27
• Encyclopedic Usage 29
• Lexicographic Usage 30
• Index 39