What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Sight vs Slight - What's the difference?

sight | slight |

In obsolete terms the difference between sight and slight

is that sight is the instrument of seeing; the eye while slight is foolish; silly; weak in intellect.

As nouns the difference between sight and slight

is that sight is the ability to see while slight is the act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

As verbs the difference between sight and slight

is that sight is to register visually while slight is to treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.

As an adjective slight is

small, weak, or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.

sight

English

Noun

  • (in the singular) The ability to see.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thy sight is young, / And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.
  • * Milton
    • O loss of sight , of thee I most complain!
  • The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view.
    • to gain sight of land
  • * Bible, Acts i. 9
    • A cloud received him out of their sight .
  • Something seen.
  • * 2005 , Lesley Brown (translator), :
  • * He's a really remarkable man and it's very hard to get him in one's sights ;
  • Something worth seeing; a spectacle.
    • You really look a sight in that silly costume!
  • * Bible, Exodus iii. 3
    • Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight , why the bush is not burnt.
  • * Spenser
    • They never saw a sight so fair.
  • A device used in aiming a projectile, through which the person aiming looks at the intended target.
  • A small aperture through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained.
    • the sight of a quadrant
  • * Shakespeare
    • their eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel
  • a great deal, a lot; (frequently used to intensify a comparative).
    • a sight of money
    This is a darn sight better than what I'm used to at home!
  • * Gower
    • a wonder sight of flowers
  • * 1913 ,
    • "If your mother put you in the pit at twelve, it's no reason why I should do the same with my lad."
    "Twelve! It wor a sight afore that!"
  • In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame, the open space, the opening.
  • (obsolete) The instrument of seeing; the eye.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Why cloud they not their sights ?
  • Mental view; opinion; judgment.
    • In their sight it was harmless.
    (Wake)
  • * Bible, Luke xvi. 15
    • That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

    Synonyms

    * (ability to see) sense of sight, vision * (something seen) view * (aiming device) scope, peep sight

    Derived terms

    * sight for sore eyes * far-sighted * in sight * insight * long-sighted * near-sighted * not a pretty sight * at sight * on sight * out of sight * * outsight * second sight * short-sighted * sight cheque * sight draft * sight for sore eyes * sight gag * sight rhyme * sight unseen

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To register visually.
  • To get sight of (something).
  • * , chapter=4
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=I was on my way to the door, but all at once, through the fog in my head, I began to sight one reef that I hadn't paid any attention to afore.}}
  • To apply sights to; to adjust the sights of; also, to give the proper elevation and direction to by means of a sight.
  • To take aim at.

    • Synonyms

    * (visually register) see * (get sight of) espy, glimpse, spot * (take aim) aim at, take aim at

    Derived terms

    * resight

    See also

    * see * vision

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    *

    slight

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.
  • * (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
    • Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.
  • * (John Locke) (1632-1705)
    • Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
  • Not stout or heavy; slender.
  • * Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
    • his own figure, which was formerly so slight
  • (obsolete) Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.
    • (Hudibras)

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * slightish * slightly * slightness

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.
  • * Cowper
    • the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies
  • To treat with disdain or neglect.
  • To act negligently or carelessly.
  • (military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
    • (Clarendon)
  • To make even or level.
    • (Hexham)
  • To throw heedlessly.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The rogue slighted me into the river.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * slightingly

    Noun

    (wikipedia slight) (en noun)
  • The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.
  • * (Benjamin Franklin)
    • Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.
  • Sleight.
    • (Spenser)

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * put a slight upon

    References

    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * lights