adjectivethird-declension two-termination adjective
levis1
levis (neuter leve, comparative levior, superlative levissimus, adverb leviter)
Classical[ˈɫɛ.wɪs]Ecclesiastical[ˈlɛː.vis]
№ 220 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- literallytwo terminationlight, not heavy
levis armaturae Numidas
the light-armed Numidiansc. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico 2.10 - poetictwo terminationusuallyeasy to digest
- two terminationquick, swift, fleet, nimble, rapid
subtile et leve peditum Libonis,
the precise and nimble flatulence of Libo,c. 84 BCE – 54 BCE, Catullus, Carmina 54 - poetictwo terminationusuallyslight, trifling, small
levis tactus
a slight, gentle touch8 CE, Ovidius, Metamorphoses 4.180 - Classical Latinfigurativelytwo terminationlight, trivial, trifling, unimportant, inconsiderable, slight, little, petty, easy, dispensable
Curae leues locuntur, ingentes stupent.
Trivial concerns talk, great ones are speechless.c. 54 CE, Seneca Minor, Phaedra 607 - figurativelytwo terminationlight, light-minded, capricious, fickle, inconstant, unreliable, false
- figurativelyraretwo terminationmild, gentle, pleasant
dum sedet, umbrōsae salicēs volucrēsque canōrae
While she sits, the shady willows, the songs of birds, and the gentle murmur of the water invite slumber.8 CE, Ovidius, Fasti 3.17–18
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
quī parum pendet; quod facile tollis, leve est.levis -e — in Mille Verba, Templum Graecum
nōn gravis, facilislevis -e — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 9, 11
light, slight
levis — in Seneca, ch. III
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Lævis · Glaber · Fricare · Terere
1. Lævis, levis, (λεῖος) means smooth, in opp. to rough and rugged, and gives a pleasant impression of elegance; whereas glaber (γλαφυρός) in opp. to rough, covered with hair, and grown up, and gives an unpleasant impression of deficiency. 2. Fricare means to rub, and thereby make smooth, like ψήχειν; whereas terere (τείρειν) means to rub, and thereby make less, like τρίβειν.
Declension
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | levis leviculus | levis levicula | leve leviculum |
| genitive | levis leviculī | levis leviculae | levis leviculī |
| dative | levī leviculō | levī leviculae | levī leviculō |
| accusative | levem leviculum | levem leviculam | leve leviculum |
| ablative | levī leviculō | levī leviculā | levī leviculō |
| vocative | levis levicule | levis levicula | leve leviculum |
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | levēs leviculī | levēs leviculae | levia levicula |
| genitive | levium leviculōrum | levium leviculārum | levium leviculōrum |
| dative | levibus leviculīs | levibus leviculīs | levibus leviculīs |
| accusative | levīs levēs, leviculōs | levīs levēs, leviculās | levia levicula |
| ablative | levibus leviculīs | levibus leviculīs | levibus leviculīs |
| vocative | levēs leviculī | levēs leviculae | levia levicula |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- milites levis armaturae
- light infantry.
- leviter significare aliquid
- to hint vaguely at a thing.
- leviter aegrotare, minus valere
- to be indisposed.
- litteris leviter imbutum or tinctum esse
- to have received a superficial education.
- ut levissime dicam (opp. ut gravissimo verbo utar)
- to use the mildest expression.
- strictim, leviter tangere, attingere, perstringere aliquid
- to make a cursory mention of a thing; to mention by the way (not obiter or in transcursu).
lĕvis, e, adj. for leg-vis; Sanscr. laghu-s, little; cf. O. H. Germ. ring-i; Germ. gering; Gr. ἐλαχύς,
I. light in weight, not heavy (opp. gravis).
I. Lit.:
leviora corpora (opp. graviora), Lucr. 2, 227: aether, id. 5, 459: aura, id. 3, 196: levior quam pluma, Plaut. Men. 3, 2, 23: stipulae, Verg. G. 1, 289: armatura, light armor: levis armaturae Numidae, the light-armed Numidians, Caes. B. G. 2, 10; also, by metonymy, lightarmed troops; v. armatura, and cf.: sed haec fuerit nobis tamquam levis armaturae prima orationis excursio, Cic. Div. 2, 10 fin.; so, miles, a light-armed soldier, Liv. 8, 8; cf. of clothing: nudi, aut sagulo leves, Tac. G. 6: flebis in solo levis angiportu, Hor. C. 1, 25, 10.—Of the earth upon the dead: terraque securae sit super ossa levis, Tib. 2, 4, 50; esp. freq. on tombstones: sit tibi terra levis (abbreviated, S. T. T. L.): per leves populos, the shades, bodiless persons, Ov. M. 10, 14: virgaque levem coerces aurea turbam, Hor. C. 1, 10, 18.—Poet. with inf.: fessis leviora tolli Pergama Grais, a lighter burden, i. e. easier to be destroyed, Hor. C. 2, 4, 11.—B. Transf.
1. Light of digestion, easy to digest (mostly poet. and post-Aug.):
quae in aqua degunt, leviorem cibum praestant. Inter domesticas quadrupedes levissima suilla est, gravissima bubula, lightest of digestion, Cels. 1, 18: leves malvae, Hor. C. 1, 31, 16 (cf.: gravi Malvae salubres corpori, id. Epod. 2, 57).—2. Light in motion, swift, quick, fleet, nimble, rapid (syn.:
agilis, alacer, pernix): ipsa (diva) levi fecit volitantem flamine currum (i. e. Argo), a quick, favorable wind, Cat. 64, 9; cf.: leves venti, Ov. M. 15, 346: flatus, Sil. 15, 162: currus, light, swift, Ov. M. 2, 150: levi deducens pollice filum, light, nimble, id. ib. 4, 36; so, pollex, id. ib. 6, 22: saltus, id. ib. 7, 767; 3, 599: peltam pro parma fecit, ut ad motus concursusque essent leviores, Nep. Iphicr. 1: Messapus levis cursu, Verg. A. 12, 489: leves Parthi, id. G. 4, 314: equus, Val. Fl. 1, 389: Nympharumque leves cum Satyris chori, Hor. C. 1, 1, 31: quaere modos leviore plectro, nimbler, gayer, id. ib. 2, 1, 40: et levis erecta consurgit ad oscula plantā, Juv. 6, 507.—With inf. (poet.): omnes ire leves, Sil. 16, 488: exsultare levis, id. 10, 605: levior discurrere, id. 4, 549: nullo levis terrore moveri, Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 514: hora, fleeting, Ov. M. 15, 181: terra, light, thin soil, Verg. G. 2, 92: et ubi montana (loca) quod leviora et ideo salubriora, Varr. R. R. 1, 6, 3; so (opp graviora), id. ib.—3. Slight, trifling, small (mostly poet.): ignis, Ov. M. 3, 488:
tactus, a slight, gentle touch, id. ib. 4, 180: strepitus, id. ib. 7, 840: stridor, id. ib. 4, 413.II. Trop.
A. Without weight, i. e. of no consequence; hence, in gen., light, trifling, unimportant, inconsiderable, trivial, slight, little, petty, easy (class.):
nunquam erit alienis gravis qui suis se concinnat levem, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 58: grave est nomen imperii atque id etiam in levi persona pertimescitur, Cic. Agr. 2, 17, 45: leve et infirmum, id. Rosc. Com. 2, 6: quae mihi ad spem obtinendae veritatis gravissima sunt; ad motum animi ... leviora, id. Deiot. 2, 5: quod alia quaedam inania et levia conquiras, id. Planc. 26, 63: auditio, a light, unfounded report, Caes. B. G. 7, 42: cui res et pecunia levissima et existimatio sanctissima fuit semper, something very insignificant, Cic. Rosc. Com. 5, 15: dolor, id. Fin. 1, 12, 40: proelium, Caes. B. G. 7, 36: periculum, id. B. C. 3, 26: in aliquem merita, id. ib. 2, 32, 10: leviore de causa, id. B. G. 7, 4 fin.: praecordia levibus flagrantia causis, Juv. 13, 182: effutire leves indigna tragoedia versus, Hor. A. P. 231.—As subst.: in levi habitum, was made little of, was regarded as a trifle, Tac. H. 2, 21; id. A. 3, 54: levia sed nimium queror, Sen. Herc. Fur. 63: quid leviora loquor? Petr. poët. 134, 12: non est leve tot puerorum observare manus, no easy matter, Juv. 7, 240: quidquid levius putaris, easier, id. 10, 344.—(b). With gen. (poet.):
opum levior, Sil. 2, 102.—B. In disposition or character.
1. Light, light-minded, capricious, fickle, inconstant, unreliable, false:
homo levior quam pluma, Plaut. Men. 3, 2, 23: ne me leviorem erga te putes, id. Trin. 5, 2, 34: tu levior cortice, Hor. C. 3, 9, 22: vitium levium hominum atque fallacium, Cic. Lael. 25, 91: quidam saepe in parva pecunia perspiciuntur quam sint leves, id. ib. 17, 63: leves ac nummarii judices, id. Clu. 28, 75: sit precor illa levis, Tib. 1, 6, 56: levi brachio aliquid agere, Cic. Att. 4, 16, 6: quid levius aut turpius, Caes. B. G. 5, 28 fin.: auctor, Liv. 5, 15: leves amicitiae, Cic. Lael. 26, 100: spes, vain, empty, Hor. Ep. 1, 5, 8: leviores mores, Ulp. Fragm. 6, 12.—2. Mild, gentle, pleasant (rare):
quos qui leviore nomine appellant, percussores vocant, Cic. Rosc. Am. 33, 93; and: levior reprehensio, id. Ac. 2, 32, 102: tandem eo, quod levissimum videbatur, decursum est, the gentlest, mildest, Liv. 5, 23 fin.: nec leves somnos timor aut cupido Sordidus aufert, Hor. C. 2, 16, 15; id. Epod. 2, 28: exsilium, mild, tolerable, Suet. Aug. 51.—Hence, adv.: lĕ-vĭter, lightly, not heavily. 1. Lit. (rare):
armati, light-armed, Curt. 4, 13.—Of the blow of a weapon: levius casura pila sperabat, Caes. B. C. 3, 92, 2.—2. Trop.
a. Slightly, a little, not much, somewhat:
leviter densae nubes, Lucr. 6, 248: inflexum bacillum, Cic. Div. 1, 17, 30: genae leviter eminentes (al. leniter), id. N. D. 2, 57, 143: qui (medici) leviter aegrotantes leniter curant, gravioribus autem morbis, etc., id. Off. 1, 24, 83: saucius, id. Inv. 2, 51, 154: non leviter lucra liguriens, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 177: agnoscere aliquid, id. Fin. 2, 11, 33: eruditus, id. de Or. 3, 6, 24.—Comp.: quanto constantior idem In vitiis, tanto levius miser, so much less, Hor. S. 2, 7, 18: dolere, Ov. P. 1, 9, 30.—Sup.: ut levissime dicam, to express it in the mildest manner, Cic. Cat. 3, 7 fin.—b. Easily, lightly, without difficulty, with equanimity:
id eo levius ferendum est, quod, etc., Cic. Fam. 4, 3, 2; cf.: sed levissime feram, si, etc., id. Prov. Cons. 20, 47; Liv. 29, 9.—Comp.: levius torquetis Arachne, more dexterously, Juv. 2, 56.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
levis e, adj. with comp. and sup.
2 LEG-. —Of weight, light, not heavy : terra, light soil , V.: levis armaturae Numidae, light-armed , Cs.: miles, L.: nudi, aut sagulo leves, lightly clad , Ta.: Per levīs populos, shades , O.: virgāque levem coerces Aureā turbam, H.—Of digestion, light, easy to digest : malvae, H.—Of motion, light, swift, quick, fleet, nimble, rapid : venti, O.: pollex, O.: ad motūs leviores, N.: Messapus cursu, V.: Quaere modos leviore plectro, gayer , H.: hora, fleeting , O.— Slight, trifling, small : Ignis, O.: tactus, gentle , O.: querellae, O.—Fig., without weight, of no consequence, light, trifling, unimportant, inconsiderable, trivial, slight, little, petty : labores, T.: haec leviora fortasse: verba: auditio, unfounded report , Cs.: cui res et pecunia levissima fuit, insignificant : proelium, skirmish , Cs.: leviore de causā, Cs.: praecordia levibus flagrantia causis, Iu.: versūs, H.: Flebis levis, neglected , H.: rati, leviorem futurum apud patres reum, L.— Easy, light : non est leve Observare, no easy matter , Iu.: quidquid levius putaris, easier , Iu.: leviora tolli Pergama, H.—Of character, light, light-minded, capricious, fickle, inconstant, untrustworthy, false : mulieres sunt levi sententiā, T.: homo: tu levior cortice, H.: iudices: quid levius aut turpius, Cs.: auctor, L.: spes, empty , H.— Light, not severe, mild, gentle, pleasant : alquos leviore nomine appellare: audire leviora, milder reproaches , H.: eo, quod levissimum videbatur, decursum est, mildest , L.: Sithoniis non levis Euhius, i. e. hostile , H.
lēvis e, adj.,
smooth, smoothed, not rough: corpuscula: pocula, V.: amite levi tendit retia, H.: coma pectine levis, O.: Levior adsiduo detritis aequore conchis, O.: inimicus pumice levis, rubbed, Iu.: argentum, not chased, Iu.: levi cum sanguine Labitur, slippery, V.—As subst n.: Externi ne quid valeat per leve morari, smoothness, H.—Without hair, smooth, beardless: Iuventas, H.: Crura, Iu.: caput, Iu.—Youthful, delicate, tender: pectus, V.: colla, O.—Fig., of speech, smooth, flowing: oratio: verborum concursus.— As subst n.: sectans levia, polish, H.
Origins
From Proto-Italic *leɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁léngʰus, from *h₁lengʷʰ- (“lightweight”). The original PIE u-stem adjective was remade into a Latin i-stem, perhaps due to contamination from brevis (“short”), though De Vaan suggests that such a development is typical for Latin regardless. Influence from brevis may also explain the lack of a nasal in the Latin term, though De Vaan provides a nasalless reconstruction of the PIE form itself. Cognates include Sanskrit लघु (laghú), Ancient Greek ἐλᾰφρός (elăphrós), ἐλᾰχῠ́ς (elăkhŭ́s) and Old English lēoht (English light).
Occitano-Romance
- Catalanlleu
- Occitanlèufrom Old Occitan leu
- Portugueseléufrom Old Occitan leu
- Gasconlhèu
Ibero-Romance
- Spanishlevefrom Old Spanish lieve
- Portugueseleve
Italo-Romance
- Italianlieve
North Italian
- Istriotlevo
- Romanshlev
- Romanshleav
- Romanshleiv
Gallo-Romance
- Franco-Provençallevet
- Franco-Provençallevi
- Old Frenchlief