nicenessn.

Brit.

/ˈnʌɪsnᵻs/, U.S.

/ˈnaɪsnᵻs/

Forms: see nice adj. and -ness suffix.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: nice adj., -ness suffix.

Etymology: < nice adj. + -ness suffix.

†1. Foolish, dissipated, or wanton behaviour; wantonness, folly. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [noun]

goleshipc1000

golenessa1050

kaggerleȝcc1175

untowenshipa1250

follyc1300

wantonnessc1390

ragerya1393

nicetya1400

wantonhead1435

lightnessa1450

gole?a1500

free will?1518

nicenessa1533

looseness1576

licentiousness1586

waggishness1591

libertinage1611

libertinism1611

licence1713

fastness1859

permissiveness1946

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) xxvii. sig. Dvi Though I shewe thus vnto you my nysenes I pray you think no folye in it.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 32 He banished out of his Court nicenesse and wantonnesse.

1583 P. Stubbes Anat. Abuses sig. Nii Was it..to stirre vp filthie lust in them selues, or for nicenes onely, as our daunces bee.

a. Luxury, indulgence; fine or luxurious living; choiceness of food; daintiness, effeminacy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun]

softnessOE

voluptuositya1380

voluptuoustya1382

delicacya1393

deliciousnessa1500

volupteousness1526

niceness1540

nicety1542

wealiness1545

luxe1558

voluptibility1631

luxury1633

voluptuousness1652

volupté1712

decadence1882

gracious living1892

vie de luxe1920

good life1937

dolce vita1961

sweet life1962

1540 R. Morison tr. J. L. Vives Introd. Wysedome (new ed.) C vj b Cleane kepinge of the bodye (delicate nisenes of meates and drinkes leyed aparte).

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. viii. sig. H2 That age despysed nicenesse vaine, Enur'd to hardnesse and to homely fare.

1615 W. Lawson Country Housewifes Garden (1626) 49 A man..degenerate cleane from his naturall feeding, to effeminate nicenesse.

1650 W. Brough Sacred Princ. 380 So niceness of life ends often in retchlesnesse of Conversation.

1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride 56 This Niceness, though it renders them insignificant to the great purposes of Life, yet it Polishes their Complexion.

1746 M. Clancy Hermon Prince of Choræa v. i Tender Limbs..to downy Softness us'd, And nurs'd in Niceness delicate.

1840 Marquis of Londonderry in New Monthly Mag. 60 106 Sugared cakes of peculiar niceness, sweetmeats and grapes.

1845 W. J. Linton Bob-thin 23 Choice their providing:—milk-white bread,—And delicate butter..milk yet warm As the taster's lips,—and thicken'd cream Of daintiest niceness.

1941 J. Masefield Gautama the Enlightened 20 Groceries, fruits and sweets at Grimbly Hughes, That crowded house where all that man has dreamt Of dainty niceness is in sight to tempt.

1988 R. Symonds Alternative Saints (BNC) 104 The reader is enjoined to avoid all delicacy and niceness in clothing and diet.

†b. Elegance in dress, finery. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > [noun] > qualities of

disguisinessc1386

threadbareness1530

lustinessa1547

tricksinessc1550

niceness1559

trickness1600

quaintness1603

fineness1667

overdress1781

fullness1792

succinctness1818

dowdiness1843

dowdyism1859

gauziness1873

floppiness1892

1559 T. Becon Displaying Popish Masse in Wks. (1563) iii. 36 b Thys your fooles cote, gayly gawded, signifieth youre pleasaunte fynenesse and womanly nicenesse.

1692 T. D'Urfey Marriage-hater Match'd iii. ii. 31 For Feature or Niceness in Dress, Compare with him surely I can.

1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer ii. i What you call handsomely, is a niceness wou'd..ill become me.

†3. Reserve, shyness, coyness. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [noun]

shamefastnessc1200

shamefulnessa1340

nicetya1387

scurna1400

bashednessc1440

bashfulness1539

nicenessc1550

shamefacedness1555

to lie aback1636

shyness1651

squeamishness1720

shrinkingness1835

c1550 J. Lumley tr. Euripides Iphigenia (1909) 1105 Daughter, you muste laie awaie all shamefastenes nowe, for you may use no nicenes; but rather proue by what meanes you maye beste saue your life.

1561 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1898) I. 595 [You write that you found such] strangenes and nycenes [in St Cosme touching] thentervew [that, etc.].

1570 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. (new ed.) ii. 203 Therefore leaue this nicenesse, M. Hardinge, and telle vs plainely [etc.].

1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 10^v The Gentlewoman whether..for nycenesse or for niggardnesse of curtesie, gaue hym..a colde welcome.

1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd vii. 91 What it is I will not tell you, because you make your selfe such a piece of nicenesse.

1685 Earl of Rochester Valentinian ii. i. 19 Rightly understood, Hee's worth a thousand Womens Nicenesses.

1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vi. 89 Unlike the Niceness of our Modern Dames (Affected Nymphs with new Affected Names).

1730 C. Coffey Female Parson ii. iii. 25 Have I thus long spent my Hopes in vain, put of from time to time with trifling Scruples of that Bauble Virtue, the foolish Niceness of your artful Sex?

1807 W. H. Ireland Stultifera Navis xii. 48 Change..fear, and niceness, (The handmaids of all women, or, more truly, Woman its pretty self,) to a waggish courage.

1873 W. Davies Shepherd's Garden 48 Thy niceness writes for thee, But to thy virtue's fair respect More willing servant be.

†4. Inclination to idleness. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun]

sleuthc888

sweernessc888

slacknessc897

unlustOE

aswolkenessc1000

slothc1175

sweeringa1300

sloth-head1303

unlusthead1340

nicetya1387

sluggardy1390

sluggardness1398

nicehead1440

musardryc1450

slugnessc1450

lashness1477

sweerdomc1480

truantness1483

passibilityc1485

sleuthfulness1488

sluggardry1513

slothfulness1526

sluggardise1532

luskishness1538

desidiousnessa1540

ocivity1550

restiness?c1550

niceness1557

laziness1580

easinessa1586

poltroonery1590

facility1615

pigritude1623

pigrity1623

otiosity1632

easefulnessa1639

dronishness1674

reasiness1679

indolence1710

accidity1730

indolency1741

lurgy1769

donothingness1814

far niente1819

oisivity1830

donothingism1839

dronage1846

lotus-eating1852

faineance1853

faineancy1854

bummerism1858

lazyhood1866

bone-laziness1875

sleevelessness1882

bummery1887

sluggardliness1977

1557 M. Basset tr. T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1366/1 If we growe so feble, that we wax lothe to goe foorth any further, and of slouthe and nycenesse begynne to stagger and stande styl.

†5.

a. Subtlety; over-refinement. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [noun]

subtilitya1425

subtilty1569

niceness1580

ob1588

curiosity1605

ergotism1656

refinery1746

over-subtlety1833

ergoism1864

subtileness1867

pilpul1894

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of > often excessive

subtilty1569

niceness1580

curiosity1605

over-refinement1711

alembication1824

over-subtlety1833

over-refining1834

supersubtlety1834

1580 A. Munday Zelauto ii. 62 Neyther to stand vpon the nicenesse of Rethoricall gloses, nor to trifle the time..this I am to enforme you.

1584 B. Rich Don Simonides II. sig. Hiv In the Court of Naples, now Aristides for his plainesse shall be thrust out, and Aristippus for his nicenesse preferred.

1592 Puckering in Ld. Campbell Lives Chancellors (1856) II. xlvi. 304 Seek not advantages to trip one of you the other by covin or niceness.

1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋16 Nicenesse in wordes was alwayes counted the next step to trifling.

1664 J. Evelyn Pomona v. 16 in Sylva The Royal Society..approves more of plainness and usefulness, then of niceness and curiosity.

1690 C. Hatton Let. 8 Apr. in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) II. 147 The politick distinctions in parl^t doe far, as to nicenes, exceed y^e philosophicall distinctions of y^e schollmen.

b. Delicacy, difficulty. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty or delicacy

kittleness1578

ticklishness1583

trickleness?1605

niceness1608

nicety1707

delicacy1753

subtlety1815

tricksiness1888

1608 W. Raleigh Lie in F. Davison et al. Poet. Rapsodie (new ed.) 18 Tell wit how much it wrangles In tickle points of nycenesse.

1642 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 715 This is commonly the last Point in Treaties betwixt Princes, and of the greatest Niceness.

1692 J. Locke 3rd Let. for Toleration 226 Niceness and Difficulty there is, to hit that just Degree of Force.

1716 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 193 He excused it a little from the importance of what was before us, and the niceness and tenderness of some things we had been on.

c. Precision, accuracy, exactness. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [noun]

nicetya1393

curiosityc1400

suretya1500

justness1533

preciseness1569

accurateness1611

punctuality1620

punctualness1620

mathematicality1641

accuracy1644

expressness1645

exactness1646

veracity1666

niceness1678

correctness1684

criticalness1693

precision1698

punctuosity1733

definitude1836

minutia1849

definition1866

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ii. 34 If the Nut be not to be cast in Brass,..this niceness is not so absolutely necessary.

1696 W. Whiston Disc. conc. Mosaick Hist. Creation 3 in New Theory of Earth I shall wave that niceness, and set them down indifferently.

1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 17/1 All the lines and angles..fit one another to the greatest niceness.

1764 T. Harmer Observ. Passages Script. i. §15. 38 The niceness of Russell's observations will not allow us to doubt the truth of what he says.

1805 W. Godwin Fleetwood II. iv. 69 I have calculated the matter with great niceness, and I find that you will this day be placed exactly where your father left you.

1892 R. Hovey Marriage of Guenevere v, in Launcelot & Guenevere 231 A second [shaft]..with unerring niceness splits the first.

a. Fastidiousness; squeamishness; (excessive) sensitivity.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [noun]

curiosityc1386

delicacya1393

curiousnessc1440

delicatesse1509

delicateness?1529

daintethness1548

exquisiteness?c1550

over-curiousness1573

featness1577

daintiness1579

dainty1590

finicality1594

niceness1604

squeamishness1654

fastidiousness1661

choicenessa1665

overnicety1664

finicalness1675

hypercriticism1678

overniceness1694

nicety1723

over-delicacy1745

daintihood1780

finickiness1833

finicism1844

over-criticism1859

overfineness1859

particularness1859

faddiness1865

finicking1869

picksomeness1881

pernicketiness1890

perfectionism1937

choosiness1945

pickiness1952

1604 J. Marston Malcontent v. ii. sig. G4^v A squemish affected nicenes is naturall to women.

1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus iii. 1 The wisedome of godly teachers wil be not too much to yeeld vnto the nicenes of their hearers.

1650 J. Cotton Singing of Psalmes 56 It were a sacrilegious nicenesse, to thinke it unlawfull lively to expresse all the artificiall elegancies of the Hebrew Text.

1705 G. Berkeley Descr. Cave of Dunmore in Wks. (1871) IV. 508 Neither need any one's niceness be offended on account of the bones.

a1791 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) VIII. 321 Warn them all against niceness in hearing.

1851 A. Helps Compan. Solitude vi. 113 Clerical niceness and over-sanctity.

1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxxlii. 169 Fraternising with dairy-folk would have struck unpleasantly upon their biassed niceness.

1990 Times Educ. Suppl. 5 Oct. (Review section) r1/3 Quaker niceness of conscience ensures that ‘the Society of Friends has been, and still is, ambivalent to the idea of a Quaker Public School.’

†b. Fastidious taste or care. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > [noun]

good tastea1400

sensea1616

epicurism1655

gusto1663

fancyc1665

sapience1667

taste1671

curiositya1684

niceness1698

gust1706

sensibility1735

connoissance1736

connoisseurship1749

tapinophoby1773

theoria1846

shibui1960

1698 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 20 59 He remarks the Niceness of the Ancients, in having their Resemblances taken by none but exquisite Masters.

1714 J. Macky Journey through Eng. I. iii. 34 The late King William..hath adorn'd it [sc. Hampton Court], with all the Niceness imaginable.

7. Esp. with reference to a person or his or her behaviour: agreeableness, pleasantness; politeness, civility.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [noun]

lustfulnessa900

sweetnessc900

sootnessc1000

unloathfulnessc1350

sugarc1374

pleasancec1395

agreeability?c1400

dulcourc1429

pleasure1497

pleasantnessa1500

douceness1518

dulceness?1526

dulcetness1528

pleasancy1545

ungrieffulness1556

acceptableness1565

rose water1584

pleasingnessa1586

amenity?1591

pleasing1591

acceptance1594

suavity1594

prettiness1604

jucundity1620

dulcity1623

pleasurableness1626

agreeablenessa1631

placency1639

acceptability1647

dulce1654

amicableness1667

pleasurability1793

niceness1809

dulciness1828

enjoyableness1868

Gemütlichkeit1892

sweetness and light1927

1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. x. iii. 49 The reason of its extreme niceness was, that don Cæsar..took pleasure in improving and ornamenting it.

1871 A. D. Whitney Real Folks xx They are in a fair way of learning the niceness of being nice.

1904 W. S. Gilbert Tom Cobb 233 Whipple, you used to be a nice man once... By your old niceness, I implore you!

1946 P. Harrison Oxf. Marmalade i. iii. 27 George's criterion of niceness, however, might be described as an infinite regress. Every girl he met was nice, until he met another, and she was nicer.

1984 M. Mahy Changeover iii. 33 Chris's was an understandable niceness, but was still something she was compelled to suspect.

1996 Spectator 31 Aug. 21/3 Your leader of 24 August somewhat yobbishly ridicules ‘niceness’ in politics, suggesting, presumably, that the virtues of fair play, courtesy, humility..are to be avoided.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	niceness
释义	nicenessn. Brit. /ˈnʌɪsnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈnaɪsnᵻs/ Forms: see nice adj. and -ness suffix. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: nice adj., -ness suffix. Etymology: < nice adj. + -ness suffix. †1. Foolish, dissipated, or wanton behaviour; wantonness, folly. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [noun] goleshipc1000 golenessa1050 kaggerleȝcc1175 untowenshipa1250 follyc1300 wantonnessc1390 ragerya1393 nicetya1400 wantonhead1435 lightnessa1450 gole?a1500 free will?1518 nicenessa1533 looseness1576 licentiousness1586 waggishness1591 libertinage1611 libertinism1611 licence1713 fastness1859 permissiveness1946 a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) xxvii. sig. Dvi Though I shewe thus vnto you my nysenes I pray you think no folye in it. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 32 He banished out of his Court nicenesse and wantonnesse. 1583 P. Stubbes Anat. Abuses sig. Nii Was it..to stirre vp filthie lust in them selues, or for nicenes onely, as our daunces bee. 2. a. Luxury, indulgence; fine or luxurious living; choiceness of food; daintiness, effeminacy. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun] softnessOE voluptuositya1380 voluptuoustya1382 delicacya1393 deliciousnessa1500 volupteousness1526 niceness1540 nicety1542 wealiness1545 luxe1558 voluptibility1631 luxury1633 voluptuousness1652 volupté1712 decadence1882 gracious living1892 vie de luxe1920 good life1937 dolce vita1961 sweet life1962 1540 R. Morison tr. J. L. Vives Introd. Wysedome (new ed.) C vj b Cleane kepinge of the bodye (delicate nisenes of meates and drinkes leyed aparte). 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. viii. sig. H2 That age despysed nicenesse vaine, Enur'd to hardnesse and to homely fare. View more context for this quotation 1615 W. Lawson Country Housewifes Garden (1626) 49 A man..degenerate cleane from his naturall feeding, to effeminate nicenesse. 1650 W. Brough Sacred Princ. 380 So niceness of life ends often in retchlesnesse of Conversation. 1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride 56 This Niceness, though it renders them insignificant to the great purposes of Life, yet it Polishes their Complexion. 1746 M. Clancy Hermon Prince of Choræa v. i Tender Limbs..to downy Softness us'd, And nurs'd in Niceness delicate. 1840 Marquis of Londonderry in New Monthly Mag. 60 106 Sugared cakes of peculiar niceness, sweetmeats and grapes. 1845 W. J. Linton Bob-thin 23 Choice their providing:—milk-white bread,—And delicate butter..milk yet warm As the taster's lips,—and thicken'd cream Of daintiest niceness. 1941 J. Masefield Gautama the Enlightened 20 Groceries, fruits and sweets at Grimbly Hughes, That crowded house where all that man has dreamt Of dainty niceness is in sight to tempt. 1988 R. Symonds Alternative Saints (BNC) 104 The reader is enjoined to avoid all delicacy and niceness in clothing and diet. †b. Elegance in dress, finery. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > [noun] > qualities of disguisinessc1386 threadbareness1530 lustinessa1547 tricksinessc1550 niceness1559 trickness1600 quaintness1603 fineness1667 overdress1781 fullness1792 succinctness1818 dowdiness1843 dowdyism1859 gauziness1873 floppiness1892 1559 T. Becon Displaying Popish Masse in Wks. (1563) iii. 36 b Thys your fooles cote, gayly gawded, signifieth youre pleasaunte fynenesse and womanly nicenesse. 1692 T. D'Urfey Marriage-hater Match'd iii. ii. 31 For Feature or Niceness in Dress, Compare with him surely I can. 1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer ii. i What you call handsomely, is a niceness wou'd..ill become me. †3. Reserve, shyness, coyness. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [noun] shamefastnessc1200 shamefulnessa1340 nicetya1387 scurna1400 bashednessc1440 bashfulness1539 nicenessc1550 shamefacedness1555 to lie aback1636 shyness1651 squeamishness1720 shrinkingness1835 c1550 J. Lumley tr. Euripides Iphigenia (1909) 1105 Daughter, you muste laie awaie all shamefastenes nowe, for you may use no nicenes; but rather proue by what meanes you maye beste saue your life. 1561 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1898) I. 595 [You write that you found such] strangenes and nycenes [in St Cosme touching] thentervew [that, etc.]. 1570 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. (new ed.) ii. 203 Therefore leaue this nicenesse, M. Hardinge, and telle vs plainely [etc.]. 1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 10^v The Gentlewoman whether..for nycenesse or for niggardnesse of curtesie, gaue hym..a colde welcome. 1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd vii. 91 What it is I will not tell you, because you make your selfe such a piece of nicenesse. 1685 Earl of Rochester Valentinian ii. i. 19 Rightly understood, Hee's worth a thousand Womens Nicenesses. 1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vi. 89 Unlike the Niceness of our Modern Dames (Affected Nymphs with new Affected Names). 1730 C. Coffey Female Parson ii. iii. 25 Have I thus long spent my Hopes in vain, put of from time to time with trifling Scruples of that Bauble Virtue, the foolish Niceness of your artful Sex? 1807 W. H. Ireland Stultifera Navis xii. 48 Change..fear, and niceness, (The handmaids of all women, or, more truly, Woman its pretty self,) to a waggish courage. 1873 W. Davies Shepherd's Garden 48 Thy niceness writes for thee, But to thy virtue's fair respect More willing servant be. †4. Inclination to idleness. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun] sleuthc888 sweernessc888 slacknessc897 unlustOE aswolkenessc1000 slothc1175 sweeringa1300 sloth-head1303 unlusthead1340 nicetya1387 sluggardy1390 sluggardness1398 nicehead1440 musardryc1450 slugnessc1450 lashness1477 sweerdomc1480 truantness1483 passibilityc1485 sleuthfulness1488 sluggardry1513 slothfulness1526 sluggardise1532 luskishness1538 desidiousnessa1540 ocivity1550 restiness?c1550 niceness1557 laziness1580 easinessa1586 poltroonery1590 facility1615 pigritude1623 pigrity1623 otiosity1632 easefulnessa1639 dronishness1674 reasiness1679 indolence1710 accidity1730 indolency1741 lurgy1769 donothingness1814 far niente1819 oisivity1830 donothingism1839 dronage1846 lotus-eating1852 faineance1853 faineancy1854 bummerism1858 lazyhood1866 bone-laziness1875 sleevelessness1882 bummery1887 sluggardliness1977 1557 M. Basset tr. T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1366/1 If we growe so feble, that we wax lothe to goe foorth any further, and of slouthe and nycenesse begynne to stagger and stande styl. †5. a. Subtlety; over-refinement. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [noun] subtilitya1425 subtilty1569 niceness1580 ob1588 curiosity1605 ergotism1656 refinery1746 over-subtlety1833 ergoism1864 subtileness1867 pilpul1894 the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of > often excessive subtilty1569 niceness1580 curiosity1605 over-refinement1711 alembication1824 over-subtlety1833 over-refining1834 supersubtlety1834 1580 A. Munday Zelauto ii. 62 Neyther to stand vpon the nicenesse of Rethoricall gloses, nor to trifle the time..this I am to enforme you. 1584 B. Rich Don Simonides II. sig. Hiv In the Court of Naples, now Aristides for his plainesse shall be thrust out, and Aristippus for his nicenesse preferred. 1592 Puckering in Ld. Campbell Lives Chancellors (1856) II. xlvi. 304 Seek not advantages to trip one of you the other by covin or niceness. 1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋16 Nicenesse in wordes was alwayes counted the next step to trifling. 1664 J. Evelyn Pomona v. 16 in Sylva The Royal Society..approves more of plainness and usefulness, then of niceness and curiosity. 1690 C. Hatton Let. 8 Apr. in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) II. 147 The politick distinctions in parl^t doe far, as to nicenes, exceed y^e philosophicall distinctions of y^e schollmen. b. Delicacy, difficulty. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty or delicacy kittleness1578 ticklishness1583 trickleness?1605 niceness1608 nicety1707 delicacy1753 subtlety1815 tricksiness1888 1608 W. Raleigh Lie in F. Davison et al. Poet. Rapsodie (new ed.) 18 Tell wit how much it wrangles In tickle points of nycenesse. 1642 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 715 This is commonly the last Point in Treaties betwixt Princes, and of the greatest Niceness. 1692 J. Locke 3rd Let. for Toleration 226 Niceness and Difficulty there is, to hit that just Degree of Force. 1716 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 193 He excused it a little from the importance of what was before us, and the niceness and tenderness of some things we had been on. c. Precision, accuracy, exactness. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [noun] nicetya1393 curiosityc1400 suretya1500 justness1533 preciseness1569 accurateness1611 punctuality1620 punctualness1620 mathematicality1641 accuracy1644 expressness1645 exactness1646 veracity1666 niceness1678 correctness1684 criticalness1693 precision1698 punctuosity1733 definitude1836 minutia1849 definition1866 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ii. 34 If the Nut be not to be cast in Brass,..this niceness is not so absolutely necessary. 1696 W. Whiston Disc. conc. Mosaick Hist. Creation 3 in New Theory of Earth I shall wave that niceness, and set them down indifferently. 1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 17/1 All the lines and angles..fit one another to the greatest niceness. 1764 T. Harmer Observ. Passages Script. i. §15. 38 The niceness of Russell's observations will not allow us to doubt the truth of what he says. 1805 W. Godwin Fleetwood II. iv. 69 I have calculated the matter with great niceness, and I find that you will this day be placed exactly where your father left you. 1892 R. Hovey Marriage of Guenevere v, in Launcelot & Guenevere 231 A second [shaft]..with unerring niceness splits the first. 6. a. Fastidiousness; squeamishness; (excessive) sensitivity. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [noun] curiosityc1386 delicacya1393 curiousnessc1440 delicatesse1509 delicateness?1529 daintethness1548 exquisiteness?c1550 over-curiousness1573 featness1577 daintiness1579 dainty1590 finicality1594 niceness1604 squeamishness1654 fastidiousness1661 choicenessa1665 overnicety1664 finicalness1675 hypercriticism1678 overniceness1694 nicety1723 over-delicacy1745 daintihood1780 finickiness1833 finicism1844 over-criticism1859 overfineness1859 particularness1859 faddiness1865 finicking1869 picksomeness1881 pernicketiness1890 perfectionism1937 choosiness1945 pickiness1952 1604 J. Marston Malcontent v. ii. sig. G4^v A squemish affected nicenes is naturall to women. 1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus iii. 1 The wisedome of godly teachers wil be not too much to yeeld vnto the nicenes of their hearers. 1650 J. Cotton Singing of Psalmes 56 It were a sacrilegious nicenesse, to thinke it unlawfull lively to expresse all the artificiall elegancies of the Hebrew Text. 1705 G. Berkeley Descr. Cave of Dunmore in Wks. (1871) IV. 508 Neither need any one's niceness be offended on account of the bones. a1791 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) VIII. 321 Warn them all against niceness in hearing. 1851 A. Helps Compan. Solitude vi. 113 Clerical niceness and over-sanctity. 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxxlii. 169 Fraternising with dairy-folk would have struck unpleasantly upon their biassed niceness. 1990 Times Educ. Suppl. 5 Oct. (Review section) r1/3 Quaker niceness of conscience ensures that ‘the Society of Friends has been, and still is, ambivalent to the idea of a Quaker Public School.’ †b. Fastidious taste or care. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > [noun] good tastea1400 sensea1616 epicurism1655 gusto1663 fancyc1665 sapience1667 taste1671 curiositya1684 niceness1698 gust1706 sensibility1735 connoissance1736 connoisseurship1749 tapinophoby1773 theoria1846 shibui1960 1698 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 20 59 He remarks the Niceness of the Ancients, in having their Resemblances taken by none but exquisite Masters. 1714 J. Macky Journey through Eng. I. iii. 34 The late King William..hath adorn'd it [sc. Hampton Court], with all the Niceness imaginable. 7. Esp. with reference to a person or his or her behaviour: agreeableness, pleasantness; politeness, civility. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [noun] lustfulnessa900 sweetnessc900 sootnessc1000 unloathfulnessc1350 sugarc1374 pleasancec1395 agreeability?c1400 dulcourc1429 pleasure1497 pleasantnessa1500 douceness1518 dulceness?1526 dulcetness1528 pleasancy1545 ungrieffulness1556 acceptableness1565 rose water1584 pleasingnessa1586 amenity?1591 pleasing1591 acceptance1594 suavity1594 prettiness1604 jucundity1620 dulcity1623 pleasurableness1626 agreeablenessa1631 placency1639 acceptability1647 dulce1654 amicableness1667 pleasurability1793 niceness1809 dulciness1828 enjoyableness1868 Gemütlichkeit1892 sweetness and light1927 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. x. iii. 49 The reason of its extreme niceness was, that don Cæsar..took pleasure in improving and ornamenting it. 1871 A. D. Whitney Real Folks xx They are in a fair way of learning the niceness of being nice. 1904 W. S. Gilbert Tom Cobb 233 Whipple, you used to be a nice man once... By your old niceness, I implore you! 1946 P. Harrison Oxf. Marmalade i. iii. 27 George's criterion of niceness, however, might be described as an infinite regress. Every girl he met was nice, until he met another, and she was nicer. 1984 M. Mahy Changeover iii. 33 Chris's was an understandable niceness, but was still something she was compelled to suspect. 1996 Spectator 31 Aug. 21/3 Your leader of 24 August somewhat yobbishly ridicules ‘niceness’ in politics, suggesting, presumably, that the virtues of fair play, courtesy, humility..are to be avoided. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.a1533
随便看	like the sound of like the wind like the wrath of god like there's no tomorrow like thirty cents like this like to anything like to hear oneself speak, talk like to like like two peas in a pod like until like want one's own way like want one's way like water like water from a duck's back like water off a duck's back like wild like wildfire like will to like like winking like winky like ——, like like, as wet as, a drowned rat like-believer liver-blende