levity

Where does the word "levity" come from? It comes from Latin levis, passing through Latin before entering English (1560s).

Levity’s story begins in Latin: levis meant “light, not heavy.” The root of 'lever', 'elevate' and 'levitate'. Within Latin, it grew into levitas by ancient. Lightness, frivolity, from levis. It reached English by 1560s as levity. Settled as the English word for a lack of seriousness, especially about a serious matter. Today, levity means a lack of seriousness, especially about a matter that deserves gravity.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient levis "light, not heavy", the root of 'lever', 'elevate' and 'levitate'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient levitas "lightness, frivolity", lightness, frivolity, from levis.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s levity "a lack of seriousness, especially about a serious matter", settled as the English word for a lack of seriousness, especially about a serious matter.