释义 |
sturdiness|ˈstɜːdɪnɪs| Forms: see sturdy a.; also 4 stordenesse. [-ness.] The quality or condition of being sturdy. 1. The condition (in animals) of being ‘sturdy’ or dizzy; spec. in sheep. = sturdy B. 1.
1552Huloet, Sturdynes or desynes of a beast,..gangilion. 1756Compl. Body Husb. 695 Sturdyness..is a kind of vertigo or giddiness in the Head of Sheep. †2. Fierceness, violence; harshness, sternness.
1382Wyclif 2 Cor. xii. 20 Sturdynessis [Vulg. animositates]. c1386[see sturdy a. 4]. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 198 Tempest on se, and wyndes sturdynesse. †3. Refractoriness, rebelliousness, contumacy, obstinacy. Obs.
a1400Gloss in Rel. Ant. I. 7 Contumacia, a sturdynesse. c1440Jacob's Well 77 Þe laste cornere of wose in pride is sturdynesse, þat is, whanne þou excusyst þin opyn or pryue synne,..& wylt noȝt knowyn þi defawte, ne wylt noȝt suffryn to ben vndertakyn. c1440Promp. Parv. 481/2 Sturdynesse, rebellio, inobediencia, contumacia. 1544Betham Precepts War ii. xvii. K iij, Of disobedience and sturdynesse. 1549Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1569) C ij b, What counsayle taketh place, where sturdinesse is lawe, and churlishe aunsweres be counted wisedome? 1673Ladies Calling i. ii. §10 The stupid sturdiness of an asse has rendered it proverbial for folly. 4. Strength of character; firmness, resoluteness.
1675J. Smith Chr. Relig. Appeal i. 70 Their Nurture and Education..had..so much effeminated their innate sturdiness, as they were not able to sustain the sharpness of that War. a1716South Serm. (1727) VI. 273 The natural Sturdiness of some Tempers might be sufficient to enable some Persons to endure such exquisite Torments. 1727Bailey vol. II, Sturdiness, Lustiness, Resoluteness. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 287 What degree of sturdiness we can acquire, to maintain the determinations of our impartial judgment. 1822Hazlitt Table-t., Knowl. Charac. II. 346 All they want is imagination and sturdiness of moral principle! 1914Q. Rev. Apr. 487 The virility and sturdiness of the Cretan Greeks. 5. Rough vigour of body; solidity of build. Also of things.
1863Geo. Eliot Romola xxx, His limbs had got back some of their old sturdiness. 1916Glasgow Herald 1 Sept. 8 Craft that, despite their sturdiness, move in rough weather like buck-jumping ponies. |