† lightlinessn.
Obsolete.
1. Ease; gentleness.
ΚΠ
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 98v (MED) Þe Maister in strecching it after þe lengþ wiþ liȝtlynez [?c1425 Paris liȝtliche; L. cum facilitate] bryng to þe contrarie þat ar gone out.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 582 (MED) Þe causes of soche þinges [sc. embrocaciouns] ben lyȝtlynesse [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. liȝtnesse; L. facilitas] of hetynge..and of resoluynge wiþ the vertue of depynge.
2. Scottish. Contemptuous manner or behaviour; contempt, scorn; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [noun]
scornc1175
scarec1275
disdainc1290
forhoghta1300
despite1340
unworthhead1340
unworthness1340
despising1382
byscorn1387
contempta1393
daina1400
dedignationc1400
vilityc1430
despisec1440
contemption1467
lightliness1479
despection1482
misprisement1483
misprizing1485
contemnment1502
fastidie1536
misprize1590
misprision1592
sdeign1595
misprisal1596
despisement1603
disesteem1603
disestimation1619
despiciency1623
despect1624
disopinion1625
under-opinion1629
despisal1650
parvipension1675
sneer1791
misesteem1832
despication1837
1479 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 31/2 For the lychtlines contempcion & offence done to the kingis hienes be Alexander Hume.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) vi. 71 Our mekle syk hamelynes engenderis lichtlynes and vilipensioun of princis, and nurisis and engenderis dispite.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iv. f. 53 Thay wald not thoill Venus haif lichtlines, Nor repudie.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. l. 49845 Richt weill he knew..Thair lichlines but diligence and cuir, Agane thair partie that tha held so puir..Suld be the caus of thair rewene.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.?a1425