| 释义 |
properness Now rare.|ˈprɒpənɪs|
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being proper.
1. The fact of belonging specially to something; special quality or character, peculiarity.
1630Lord Banians ii. 9 The Woman to whom God had giuen that vnderstanding, to be capable of the propernesse of his speech. 1635Heywood Hierarch. iii. Comm. 175 The Latines in regard of the propernesse of the forme, name it [Deltoton] Triangulum. 1727Bailey vol. II, Properness, Peculiarness.
2. Excellence, goodness; esp. of appearance: goodliness, handsomeness, elegance, comeliness.
1530Palsgr. 258/2 Propernesse, faictisse, factise. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Acts vii. 29 The propernes of the childe. a1625Fletcher Love's Pilgr. iv. i, Yonder is a lady veil'd; For properness beyond comparison. 1655Fuller Hist. Camb. (1840) 196 The queen, upon parity of deserts, always preferred properness of person in conferring her favours. 1706Phillips, Properness, Talness of Stature.
3. Fitness, suitableness; becomingness, propriety; conformity with what is ‘proper’.
a1603T. Cartwright Confut. Rhem. N.T. Pref. (1618) 18 Both for propernesse of wordes, and truth of sense he hath wisely and faithfully translated. 1710Abp. King Let. to Swift 16 Sept., I am not courtier enough to know the properness of the thing. 1873Mrs. Whitney Other Girls vi, Standing off in separate properness, as people do who ‘go into society’. |