a. Now rare. [ad. L. lepid-us.] Pleasant, jocose, facetious, amusing. Sometimes, Charming, elegant.
1619. Sir S. D’Ewes, College Life (1851), 73. In guessing at the lepid derivation [of English words].
1649. Bulwer, Pathomyot., II. i. 84. From this Tonique motion Taurellus took his Lepid Paradox.
1658. Phillips, Terræ filius, one that is allowed to make lepid or jesting speeches at an Act at Oxford.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., I. xxxiii. 149. Apes, the greater part black as jet, some small ones black and white, very lepid.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, I. 142. Some … figures … of rhetorick … are not easily differenced from those sallies of wit wherein the lepid way doth consist.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 22. He was … esteemed … for his lepid and jocular discourse.
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 49. 3/2. Solve the Above, ye Lepid Gods.
1804. Edin. Rev., III. 339. These histories … are probably not many degrees elevated above the lepid fables of Mrs. Goose.
1807–8. Syd. Smith, Plymley’s Lett., Wks. 1859, II. 163/1. As for the joyous and lepid consul, he jokes upon neutral flags and frauds [etc.].
Hence Lepidly adv.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet. (1653), 66. Lucian very lepidly derides an old Woman, who … would have her Haire of a yellow tincture.
