English Explanatory Dictionary

weighty

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having a lot of weight; heavy.
  2. Important; serious; not trivial or petty.
  3. Rigorous; severe; afflictive.

Pronunciation

/ˈweɪti/ en-us-weighty.ogg

Word forms

weighty weightier weightiest weightie

Etymology

From Middle English weighti, weghti, wighti, equivalent to weight + -y. Cognate with Scots weichty, wechty, wichty, Saterland Frisian wichtich, West Frisian wichtich, Dutch wichtig, gewichtig, German wichtig, Danish vigtig, Swedish viktig. Compare typologically Russian ве́ский (véskij), весо́мый (vesómyj) (< вес (ves)). Also compare the same meaning development from cognate (by borrowing) Polish waga (< ... < Proto-Germanic *wēgō): ważny (whence Russian ва́жный (vážnyj)).

Synonyms

grave solemn austere frightful demure serious earnest grievous lack-laughter thoughtful sad sage saturnine sedate solemncholy sober somber sombre staid stern sweer weightsome weighty

Derived words

weightily weightiness
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