smallness

English

Alternative forms

  • smallnesse (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English smalnesse; equivalent to small + -ness.

Noun

smallness (countable and uncountable, plural smallnesses)

  1. (uncountable) The state or quality of being small.
    His smallness didn't bother him, except when he needed something off the top shelf.
    • 1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. []. Chapter III.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, [] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, [], London: [] Hen[ry] Brome [], →OCLC, page 136:
      The exiguity and ſmallneſſe of ſome ſeeds extending to large productions is one of the magnalities of nature, ſomewhat illuſtrating the work of the Creation, and vaſt production from nothing.
    • 1963 January, “The Irish scene”, in Modern Railways, page 16:
      Mr. Howden forcibly expressed his view that the U.T.A. [Ulster Transport Authority] rail system "had reached the limit of its smallness".
  2. (countable) The result or product of being small.

Translations

References

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.