| 释义 |
proˈfoundness
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being profound; profundity.
As to chronological order of senses, see profound a.
1. Depth, deepness (in physical sense): = profundity 1, 1 b. (In quot. 1642 with play on sense 2.)
1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xiv. 411 The Butler makes him free..of his own fathers cellar, and guesseth the profoundnesse of his young masters capacity by the depth of the whole-ones he fetcheth off. a1693Urquhart's Rabelais iii. xlix. 396 The Herb..never fixeth it self into the ground above the profoundness almost of a Cubit. 1851Hawthorne Ho. Sev. Gables xi, To take a deep, deep plunge into the ocean of human life, and to sink down and be covered by its profoundness.
2. Depth of learning, thought, meaning, etc.: = profundity 2.
1525Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccxxviii. [ccxxiv.] 714 They that wyll seke out the profoundnesse of the mater, maye well knowe fro whence ye came. 1575Recorde's Gr. Artes Pref. A iij, The ignorant sorte..do litle esteeme the profoundnesse of mannes spirit, and of reason. 1629Burton Babel no Bethel 39 Shew vs your profoundnesse..in your reading of Bellarmine. 1709Hearne Collect. 10 Sept. (O.H.S.) II. 254 A shew of Learning passes with them for profoundness. 1874Green Short Hist. vi. §4. 299 In originality and profoundness of thought he [Erasmus] was..inferior to More.
b. Craft, deep or subtle contrivance.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. viii. §3 This is what the author of the Revelation calleth the depth or profoundness of Satan [Rev. ii. 24]. 1830Hazlitt Party Spirit Wks. 1904 XII. 402 Party spirit is one of the profoundnesses of Satan.
3. Intensity, extreme degree: = profundity 3.
1612R. Sheldon Serm. St. Martin's 30 What a depth of humilitie, what a profoundness of meekenesse. Mod. The profoundness of his ignorance was astonishing. |