LEVITY
levity
(noun) a manner lacking seriousness
levity
(noun) feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
levity (usually uncountable, plural levities)
Lightness of manner or speech, frivolity; lack of appropriate seriousness; inclination to make a joke of serious matters.
(obsolete) Lack of steadiness.
The state or quality of being light, buoyancy.
(countable) A lighthearted or frivolous act.
Antonyms
• gravity
Source: Wiktionary
Lev"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. levitas, fr. levis light in weight; akin to
levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk;
relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or
floating upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; -- opposed to
gravity.
He gave the form of levity to that which ascended; to that which
descended, the form of gravity. Sir. W. Raleigh.
This bubble by reason of its comparative levity to the fluidity that
incloses it, would ascend to the top. Bentley.
2. Lack of gravity and earnestness in deportment or character;
trifling gayety; frivolity; sportiveness; vanity. " A spirit of
levity and libertinism." Atterbury.
He never employed his omnipotence out of levity. Calamy.
3. Lack of steadiness or constancy; disposition to change;
fickleness; volatility.
The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with everything of which it
is in possession. Burke.
Syn.
– Inconstancy; thoughtlessness; unsteadiness; inconsideration;
volatility; flightiness.
– Levity, Volatility, Flightiness. All these words relate to
outward conduct. Levity springs from a lightness of mind which
produces a disregard of the proprieties of time and place.Volatility
is a degree of levity which causes the thoughts to fly from one
object to another, without resting on any for a moment. Flightiness
is volatility carried to an extreme which often betrays its subject
into gross impropriety or weakness. Levity of deportment, of conduct,
of remark; volatility of temper, of spirits; flightiness of mind or
disposition.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition