lightsome

¹

[ lahyt-suhm ]

adjective

1. light, especially in form, appearance, or movement; airy; buoyant; agile; nimble; graceful.
2. cheerful; lighthearted.
3. frivolous; changeable.

lightsome

²

[ lahyt-suhm ]

adjective

1. emitting or reflecting light; luminous.
2. well-lighted; illuminated; bright.

lightsome

¹

/ ˈlaɪtsəm /

adjective

1. producing or reflecting light
2. full of or flooded with light

lightsome

²

/ ˈlaɪtsəm /

adjective

1. lighthearted
2. airy or buoyant
3. not serious; frivolous

Derived Forms

• ˈlightsomely, adverb
• ˈlightsomeness, noun

Other Words From

• lightsome·ly adverb
• lightsome·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lightsome¹

1350–1400; Middle English lyghtesum (cognate with Middle High German līhtsam ). See light ², -some ¹

Origin of lightsome²

First recorded in 1400–50, lightsome is from the late Middle English word lyghtesum. See light ¹, -some ¹

Example Sentences

During the second act, I worried — though worry is too strong a word — that maybe this production had become too funny, too lightsome.

From New York Times

This, along with Joe's lightsome delivery and comportment, makes enough of an impression to cement his presence in scenes even when Emmett is only present in spirit and memory.

From Salon

As Allen put it, Douglass “touches chords . . . which vibrate music now sweet, now sad, now lightsome, now solemn, now startling, now grand, now majestic, now sublime.”

From Washington Post

Re-imagining Benny Goodman,” Mr. Etkin, a Israeli clarinetist with a lightsome disposition, pays a contemporary homage to the artist known in his day as the King of Swing.

From New York Times

Of course, it helps that the play is 50 minutes, but the cast is so agreeable and the script is so lightsome that those minutes fly by.

From New York Times

Related Words

• buoyant
• jolly
• jovial
• joyous
• laid-back
• lively
• playful
• upbeat