| 释义 |
smallness|ˈsmɔːlnɪs|
Also 4–7 smal-, 6–7 smale-, 7 smalle-; 4–7 -nesse, 5–7 -nes (5 -nez).
[f. small a.]
†1. Slimness; slenderness. Obs.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 181 Whan þe lymes beeþ..as they schulde be in schappe,..quantite, and gretnesse and smalnesse. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 60 If þe pacient of emoroidez be of malencolious complexion, þise bene toknez:—smalnez of body [etc.]. 1483Cath. Angl. 346 A Smalnes, gracilitas. 1565Cooper Thesaurus, Exilitas, sclendernesse: thinnesse. Foliorum exilitas,..the smalnesse. 1623Cockeram ii, Smalnes, tenuitie. 1733Tull Horse-Hoeing Husb. i. (Dubl.) 7 The Roots, tho' very weak and slender, are easily supported.., notwithstanding their Length, Smallness and Flexibility. 1761Hume Hist. Eng. I. xiii. 336 Notwithstanding the great length and smallness of his legs.
2. The fact or quality of being small, in various senses:
a. In size or extent.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. i. (Bodl. MS.), Treen beþ diuers..in gretenes and in smalnes and in strengþe. 1512Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 19 §14 Nott regardyng the..greatnesse or smalnes of the same penyes. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 31 Not vnlyke the Beechemast both in colour and fourme, differing onely in the smalenesse. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 425 The Sea Oxe differeth nothing from the Land Oxe, save in smalnesse of stature. 1669Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 212 According to the height you raise the Water, may you proportion the greatness or smallness of your Engine. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 138 The Smallness of my Boat. 1792A. Young Trav. France 399 The great evil is the smallness of farms. 1802Dibdin Edit. Classics Advt., The smallness and closeness of the type. 1840Lardner Geom. 221 Proportional to the smallness of the pieces into which the sphere is divided. 1884G. F. Braithwaite Salmonidæ Westm. ii. 7 They are easily distinguished..by the smallness of their scales.
b. In capacity, ability, etc.
1435Misyn Fire of Love 96 Þe smalnes certan of my mynde can-not opyn itt. 1557North Gueuara's Diall Pr. Author's Prol., That..the smalnes of my eloquence..shold be lytle regarded. 1594T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 291 God..abaseth himselfe to our smallnesse. 1662J. Bargrave Pope Alex. VII (1867) 9 The embassadors..being the apter to bear with the smallness of his sufficiency.
c. In strength, quality, or vigour.
1565Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Exilitas, The smalnesse of a womans voyce. 1620Venner Via Recta ii. 39 There is great difference to be found in Beere, according to the strength and smalnesse of it. 1661R. Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. Isagoge e v b, Sadnesse doth by degrees dissolve the spirits,..and cause..palenesse, and smallenesse of pulse. 1755in Johnson. 1828–32Webster s.v., The smallness of a female voice. 1847W. C. L. Martin The Ox 133/1 Let not the smallness of the pulse deter from bleeding.
d. In amount, quantity, etc.
1649E. Reynolds Hosea iii. 12 The greatnes of his work for us to the smalnes of ours unto him. 1677A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 107 By reason of the..smallness of the Rains..most Rivers are much wanting in Water. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1851) I. 241/1 They never considered the smallness of his supplies. 1794S. Williams Hist. Vermont 299 Encouraged by the smallness of the taxes. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. x. II. 554 The smallness of the booty disappointed the plunderers. 1885Manch. Exam. 6 Apr. 4/6 The smallness of the work achieved.
e. In respect of numbers.
1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxix. (1787) III. 127 Such was the smallness of their establishments, or the difficulty of recruiting. 1801Farmer's Mag. Nov. 469 A large growth of grass,..owing to the comparative smallness of stock kept, remains..to be consumed. 1890Spectator 3 May, The smallness of his party—on his biggest expedition he only had five men..—may partly account for this.
3. Littleness of mind; meanness, pettiness.
1813Examiner 31 May 350/1 There is a stiff smallness about his mind. 1869Blackmore Lorna D. xiii, That was honest enough, and no smallness of me there. 1883Good Words 196 Not one of his children but tried to conquer self and smallness when he was by.
4. With pl. A small part, portion, etc. rare.
1832L. Hunt Poems (1860) 269 Compound of lovely smallnesses. |