quyknesse
Middle English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkwiknɛs(ə)/, /ˈkwiːknɛs(ə)/
Noun
quyknesse
- Life; the state of being alive.
- Vigor, vitality, liveliness.
- c. 1368, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, as recorded c. 1440–1450 in Bodleian Library MS. Fairfax 16, folio 130r:
- Defaulte of slepe and hevynesse / Hath [slayne] my spirite of quyknesse / That I haue loste al lustyhede
- Lack of sleep and sorrow / Have killed the liveliness in my spirit / So that I have lost all enjoyment of life.
- c. 1368, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, as recorded c. 1440–1450 in Bodleian Library MS. Fairfax 16, folio 130r:
- The state of being lifelike or clear.
- (rare, Late Middle English) Quickness, rapidity.
Descendants
- English: quickness
References
- “quiknes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
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