nicetyn.
/ˈnʌɪsᵻti/, U.S. /ˈnaɪsᵻdi/ I. Niceness, or an instance of this.† 1. Folly, stupidity; a foolish action. Obsolete.† 2. † 3. Reserve, coyness, timidity. Obsolete.† 4. Sloth, idleness. Obsolete. rare.† 6.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [noun]
unwisdomc825
unredeeOE
egedec1175
unwitc1175
unwisdomnessa1200
dusileca1225
dusischipa1225
folly?c1225
kangschipe?c1225
unwitshipa1250
unwisenessa1340
cornardy1340
unwithead1340
lewdness1362
nicetyc1380
sotie1390
folitya1400
follinessa1400
foolheada1400
insipiencec1422
fondnessa1425
wanwita1425
cocardyc1430
foltry1440
jopperyc1440
folliheada1450
fonning?a1475
niceheada1475
foltheadc1475
folabilitya1529
daftness1552
foolageness1563
foppery1592
guckry1596
senselessness1606
coxcombry1608
goosery1642
ineptitude1656
fopicalness1660
fopperishness1683
insagacity1808
spoonery1824
spooniness1824
noodleism1830
addle-headedness1835
foolishment1852
insapiency1876
ineptness1877
goosiness1888
inepticality1923
sappiness1943
gormlessness1958
c1380 G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale 463 O iuge, confus in thy nycetee, Wiltow that I reneye innocence?
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. 176 (MED) It were a nycete To telle you hou that I fare.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 2636 (MED) I myȝt..ful wel marked be..of wilful nycete So folily to voyde away my grace.
c1450 Cato's Distichs (Sidney Sussex) 108 in Englische Studien (1906) 36 10 (MED) For to trow oþer of þe More þan þiself is grete nicite [v.r. nycete].
1532 Romaunt Rose in Wks. G. Chaucer f. cxxviii/1 Who so..weneth it be A jape, or els nycete [Fr. musardie] To wene that dremes after fal.
c1580 ( tr. Bk. Alexander (1927) III. ii. 7993 To ly heir it war nyste.
a. Licentiousness, lust. to use (also do) one's nicety: to satisfy one's lust. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > lasciviousness or lust > [noun]
lustc1000
goleheada1325
luxury1340
luxurec1374
concupiscencec1386
gigletrya1387
nicetya1387
flesh-lusta1400
lovereda1400
sensualities1477
lascivity1490
lubricitya1492
libidinosity1509
luxuriousness1542
veneriousness1547
rammishness1552
luxe1558
ustion1559
lustinessa1575
luxurity1576
lusting1580
by-lusting1583
lasciviousness1590
lusciousness1594
epithymy1600
concupiscency1608
libidinousness1611
lustfulness1611
concupiscentiality1612
rampancy1652
venereousness1659
ustulation1660
lasciviency1664
salaciousness1727
lech1796
lustihood1798
randinessc1890
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 115 (MED) Meny of þe Iewes..made in Ierusalem hore houses and place for ȝongelynges to use here nysete ynne.
c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 412 Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee.
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 3762 (MED) Plato..dwelte in wildernesse ffor to restreyne fleschely nycete.
b. Foolish, wanton, or irresponsible conduct; (also) wickedness. 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
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 4719 Þe bysshope..seyd..Þat he ne shulde make hys nycete Before the graces of þe charyte.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 123 (MED) Þe kyng..chastised his meyne, & oþer afterward left of þer nycete.
?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 167 Litel sauour of holynesse.., but nycete & pleye & goynge to þe tauerne & oþere vanytes.
a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 1209 (MED) Hast þou, by malys or by nyste, I-made any mon dronke to be?
c1475 in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (Harl. 642) (1790) 16 (MED) The stedfast observance of the good rulis..to kepe the ministres..from any breche, outrage, reproche, or nicetie..caused the..Quene to marvayle.
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 17 (MED) The moderate rule and honeste of the churche turnith..in disordinaunce, nycete, and wantonnes.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [noun]
shamefastnessc1200
shamefulnessa1340
nicetya1387
scurna1400
bashednessc1440
bashfulness1539
nicenessc1550
shamefacedness1555
to lie aback1636
shyness1651
squeamishness1720
shrinkingness1835
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 227 Þe Romayns..chargede þe Britouns to leve of unmanhede and nysete [L. ignavia].
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) ii. 1288 Lat nycete [v.rr. nycite, nysete] nat do yow bothe smerte.
a1500 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Harl. 3943) ii. 1286 Lete be ȝour nycete and ȝour foly And spekiþ wiþ hym in esyng of his hert.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. ii. sig. N8 So loue does loath disdainefull nicitee.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. iv. 162 Lay by all nicetie, and prolixious blushes That banish what they sue for. View more context for this quotation
1692 J. Dryden All for Love (new ed.) Pref. sig. Bv Nicety and affectation; which is no more but modesty deprav'd into a vice.
1765 W. Stevenson Orig. Poems II. 135 Fair Lucia, to no fortune born, Affects all nicety to scorn. Why should her virtue rigid prove? Why prove an enemy to love?
1810 I. Hart Gordian Knot v. i. 73 Why, will he eat us? Had he thought of harm, He would have offer'd it long since. Beshrew me, Your nicety is ill-timed.
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
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 281 He was i-putte doun for grete nysete [?a1475 anon. tr. slawthe; L. inertiam].
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 355 Nycehede, or nycete, inercia.
5. † c. to a (great, uncommon, etc.) nicety: to the degree of precision specified. Obsolete.
a. Fine or delicate precision; accuracy, exactitude, minuteness. †after the nicety: precisely (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [noun] > careful exactness
nicetya1393
featness1577
accurateness1611
accuracy1644
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
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [noun] > degree of
nicetya1393
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 462 (MED) That..maladie..is cleped Jelousie, Of which if I the proprete Schal telle after the nycete..A Fievere it is cotidian.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. N3 [Our kind of dancing is used] to show our actiuitie, agilitie and curious nicitie and to procure lustful looue.
1714 tr. I. Barrow Euclide's Elements (rev. ed.) Pref. Some..may have demonstrated most of these Propositions with more nicety.
1723 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth (ed. 3) 204 With that exquisite Nicety as to express even the smallest and finest Lineaments of them.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 155. ⁋2 Those who can distinguish with the utmost nicety the boundaries of vice and virtue.
1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling ii. iv. 100 If it is a proper fly for the season, and you cast it with a nicety, the fish is your own.
1832 C. Babbage Econ. Machinery & Manuf. (ed. 2) xi. 81 Some nicety will be required in these operations.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 92 If the sea was running high the utmost nicety in steering..would be essential.
1902 J. Conrad Heart of Darkness i, in Youth 86 It was borne in upon me..with what extreme nicety he had estimated the time requisite.
1990 Ess. in Crit. 40 278 For nicety of phrasing, she yields nothing to Pope himself in these lines.
b. to a nicety: precisely, exactly, as closely or completely as possible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adverb] > strictly
strait1338
smally1340
at point devicec1390
point-devicec1425
precisely1526
to the point device1542
just1549
rigorously1561
by the square1570
curiously1573
by point device1575
in print1576
to a tittle1597
nicelya1616
to a hair's breadtha1616
point-vice1641
to a nicka1680
to a cow's thumb1681
to a tee1693
narrowly1708
scrupulously1712
to a dot1728
perjinkly1775
to a nicety1795
astringently1866
to a fit1890
1704 T. Baker Act at Oxf. iii. 27 To a nicety, he has prov'd himself the greatest Mathematician o'th' Age.
1712 W. Oldisworth tr. Horace Odes III. xv. 23 You to a Nicety can tell, When Codrus for his Country fell.
1740 Friedrich Let. in T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia (1862) III. xi. iii. 64 All was arranged and concerted to a nicety.
1795 E. Burke Lett. in Wks. IX. 418 These things play the Jacobin game to a nicety.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby iii. 14 Fitting on his gloves to a nicety.
1939 Daily Tel. 18 Dec. 3/2 (advt.) One that fits to a nicety the breast-pocket of a uniform.
1955 M. Wheeler Still Digging (1958) 146 We struck the beach fairly and squarely. Spriggs, RNR, had brought us in to a nicety.
1986 A. Harding Also Georgiana (1988) v. 73 Drapes correctly hung, their folds calculated to a nicety to suggest the acceptable degree of luxury.
ΚΠ
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses (new ed.) vi. sig. B Nic..calculated the Acres and Roods to a great Nicety.
1748 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 45 114 They would be able to a very great Nicety to ascertain the absolute Velocity of Electricity.
1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. 127 The pendulum affords a means of subdividing time to an almost unlimited nicety.
1880 T. Hardy Trumpet-major II. xvi. 20 The sun shone occasionally into Matilda's face..its rays picking out all her features to a great nicety.
a. Excessive refinement or extravagance in dress or manner of living. Also: cleverness, craftiness. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [noun] > excessive refinement
nicety?c1450
superfineness1681
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 165 I Shall tell you..of a knightes doughter that lost her mariage bi her nisite.
c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 178 (MED) Suche maner of people ought to be honorabill, wyse, and of fayre porte, clothed in honeste araye withoute disgysyng or nycete.
?1510 Treatyse Galaunt (de Worde) sig. Aijv The noble course of nature nycete hath deuoured.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 87v The robe or cope, and the tubbe of Diogenes, did..vpbraide to the riche and welthie folkes their nycytee and their delices.
1604 B. Jonson Particular Entertainm. at Althrope 7, in His Pt. Royall Entertainem. In his Garbe he sauors Little of the nicety, In the sprucer Courtiery.
1652 N. Culpeper Eng. Physitian Enlarged 76 Pride and Ignorance..preferring nicity before health.
b. Luxury, self-indulgence. Obsolete. rare.
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
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes i. f. 104v To an ethnike philosophir it seemed nycitee..ye an ethnike or gentile should haue his shooes dooen on by his seruaunte.
1650 Earl of Monmouth tr. J. F. Senault Man become Guilty 22 If we sleep, tis rather out of too much nicety than of necessity.
7. † b. Scrupulous care, particularity. Obsolete.† c. Fastidiousness, squeamishness. Obsolete.† d. Critical taste. Obsolete. rare.
a. Delicacy of feeling, sensibility; scrupulosity, punctiliousness; an instance of this, a scruple. Formerly also: †excessive delicacy (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > capacity for emotion > sensitiveness or tenderness > [noun]
feeling?c1400
tendernessc1440
heart1557
nicety1583
toucha1586
apprehension1605
tender-heartedness1607
sensibility1609
sensibleness1613
acuteness1644
exquisiteness1650
susceptivity1722
sensation1744
soul1748
susceptibility1753
sensitivity1773
sensitiveness1788
affettuoso1791
sensibilité1817
soulfulness1842
mild-heartedness1849
susceptiveness1873
sensitivism1877
tender-mindedness1907
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [noun] > seemly behaviour or propriety > strict decorum
formc1405
galancie1581
ceremoniousness1583
punctilio1596
formality1599
ceremony1603
punctuality1618
punctillea1648
complementalness1657
formalness1684
punctiliousness1685
nicety1693
ceremonial1749
square-toedness1846
punctiliosity1859
uptightness1969
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. D The Emperour perceyuing his sonns nicetye, stood not to debate the matter with excuses, but incontynentlye, fetchynge a bagg of goolde ont of his closet, helde it to his sonns nose.
1640 H. Glapthorne Ladies Priviledge ii. sig. Di But at the minute, reason may dispense Twixt us with such a nicety.
a1680 S. Butler Satires & Misc. Poetry & Prose (1928) 89 His slipp'ry Conscience..will not endure the gentlest Check, But at the slightest Nicety grows queasy.
1693 G. Stepney tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires viii. 157 Nay when his Year of Honour's ended, soon He'll leave that nicety, and mount at Noon.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 97. ⁋2 It prevail'd only among such as had a Nicety in their Sense of Honour.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey II. 196 As there was no other bed-chamber in the house, the hostess, without much nicety, led them into mine.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality Introd., in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 20 A fanciful nicety it was on the part of my..friend.
1850 L. Hunt Autobiogr. I. iv. 179 He had declined taking orders, from nicety of religious scruple.
1927 Amer. Mercury Feb. 230/1 He exhibits a constant fear lest the nicety of his aesthetic understanding..be stunted by the commonplace matter.
1988 J. Bayley Short Story ii. 57 The story..picks its way with the most tacit nicety between true emotions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [noun] > scrupulous care or attention to detail
chariness1571
minuteness1640
exactness1645
particularity1669
nicety1711
exactitude1735
narrowness1817
particularness1859
scrupulousness1863
detail1868
scrupulosity1879
meticulosity1887
meticulousness1909
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 120. ¶14 With how much Nicety and Attention does she [sc. the Hen] help the Chick to break its Prison?
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Mar. (1965) I. 387 The Houses of the great Turkish Ladys are kept clean with as much nicety as those in Holland.
1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. iii. 310 A bird, that chooses with such care and nicety the place and materials of her nest.
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
1723 R. Steele Conscious Lovers i. i What is it all of a sudden offends your Nicety at our House?
1723 W. Meston Knight i. 21 Since he got them in a Token; He had more Manners, than to view them With Nicety.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility I. xix. 239 My own nicety, and the nicety of my friends, have made me..an idle, helpless being. We never could agree in our choice of a profession. View more context for this quotation
1816 J. Austen Emma II. xviii. 337 Selina says it [sc. sleeping at an inn] is quite a horror to her—and I believe I have caught a little of her nicety . View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of
subtletya1450
subtility1494
election1531
fineness1561
finesse1564
delicacy1678
subtlety1728
nicety1780
subtleness1872
1780 S. Johnson in J. Boswell Life Johnson (1831) IV. 342 Sir, I beg to have your judgment, for I know your nicety.
8. † b. The point at which accuracy or skill is required. Obsolete.
a. The quality of requiring careful consideration or handling; delicacy, intricacy, subtlety. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty or delicacy
kittleness1578
ticklishness1583
trickleness?1605
niceness1608
nicety1707
delicacy1753
subtlety1815
tricksiness1888
1707 London Gaz. No. 4330/2 A Thing of too great Nicety and Difficulty to be accomplish'd in any other..Reign.
1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. i. 103 The orthodox began to divide upon questions of great nicety.
1812 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 45 The learned judge told the jury that this was a case of great nicety.
1845 J. R. McCulloch Treat. Taxation ii. iv. 174 The question..is one of considerable nicety and difficulty.
1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 99 Matters of the utmost depth and nicety.
1910 Encycl. Brit. II. 28/1 The matching of the fly with the insect on the water is a matter of much nicety, for the water-flies are of many shades and colours.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty or delicacy > a difficult or delicate matter or task
nicety1725
egg-dance1801
hot brick1865
hot potato1952
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [noun] > point of
nicety1725
1725 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman I. iii. 33 The nicety of writing in business, consists chiefly, in giving every species of goods their trading names.
1827 D. Johnson Sketches Indian Field Sports (ed. 2) 72 The great nicety is, to fix the bow, so that the arrow may fly quite horizontally.
1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 290 Few of the scale makers, it seems, of his day, knew in what the nicety of a balance consists.
II. A nice thing, utterance, etc. Chiefly in plural.† 11. A doubt, an objection, a reservation. Obsolete.
9.
a. Something choice, elegant, or dainty; a luxury.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [noun] > instance of
nicetya1450
galancie1581
nicery1605
refinement1683
delicacy1728
a1450–1500 ( Libel Eng. Policy (1926) 18 (heading) The commodites and nycetees of Venicyans and Florentynes.
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 56 (MED) Men noriche lordes sones in delites and nycetes as sone as thei be borne.
1611 B. Rich Honestie of Age (1844) 15 Some foolish nicities that were vsed amongst women in his time.
1626 R. Bernard Isle of Man i. 71 The fourth is the doore of Smelling; at this enter in foolish Niceties, Perfumings, and other allurements to daliance.
1675 A. Huyberts Corner-stone 16 The new Nicities serve for nought but ostentation and discourse.
1719 Free-thinker No. 118. 2 Mr. Gibbons could not have carved his Niceties with a Hatchet.
1756 W. Dodd Nature of Fasting (ed. 2) 9 Solicitous about the niceties and gayeties of dress.
1835 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 22 June in Amer. Notebks. (1972) i. 7 Clean linen and other niceties of apparel.
1950 R. Macaulay World my Wilderness ii. 11 An ardent and delighted reaction towards the exquisite niceties of civilisation.
b. Something nice or dainty for eating.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [noun] > delicacy or titbit
daintethc1290
daintyc1300
morselc1390
confection1393
delicec1405
delicacya1425
delicatea1475
friandise1484
deliciositiesa1500
daintive1526
junket1538
knack1548
daintrel1575
cate1578
pulpament1600
gaudy1622
regalo1622
daint1633
titbita1641
scitament1656
regale1673
knick-knack1682
nicety1704
bonne bouche1721
diablotin1770
sunket1788
regalement1795
confiture1802
bon-bon1821
sock1825
delicatessen1853
good things1861
tiddlywinks1893
1704 B. Mandeville Æsop Dress'd 3 They'll give you hundred Niceties, As Chicken Bones, boyl'd Loins of Mutton, As good as ever Tooth was put in.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) Niceties, in the plural, is generally applied to dainties or delicacies in eating.
a1779 D. Garrick Poet. Wks. (1785) I. 120 Say but you're tir'd with boil'd and roast at home, We too can send for nicities from Rome.
1793 Friendly Addr. Poor 13 Niceties do little towards filling the bellies of a hungry family.
1825 L. L. Cameron Honest Penny 7 There were stuck up for sale apples, oranges, mintcakes, tarts, and many niceties of the same sort.
1895 G. Roy Generalship 7 The night o' the pairty comes, an' I had a' my bits o' niceties laid out.
1993 Albuquerque (New Mexico) Jrnl. 20 Feb. b8/4 American Airlines has started slicing melons rather than cubing them... Other labor-intensive niceties like radishes cut into a rose shape have been eliminated.
10.
a. A fine or minute distinction; a subtle point or refinement.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > subtle point
subtletya1425
subtilityc1485
jimp?a1500
nicety1589
nicery1605
fineness1622
pointille1626
measuring cast1631
criticisma1640
exility1642
subtilty1681
quoddity1682
nuance1781
distinguo1895
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxii. 210 The terme, though not greatly pertinent to the matter, yet not vnpleasant to know for them that delight in such niceties.
1631 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 55 The Court would not rayse nycities out of the pardon and frame a third offence.
1652 R. Saunders Balm Ep. Ded. 2 When Satan is so busie..there is no time to stick at nicities.
1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 63 There's no standing upon Niceties..with Fellows that have the Constitution of a Horse.
1788 E. Burke Impeachm. W. Hastings in Wks. XIII. 6 Not upon the niceties of a narrow jurisprudence, but upon the enlarged..principles of state morality.
1834 T. B. Macaulay William Pitt in Ess. (1851) 295 These were niceties for which the audience cared little.
1880 T. A. Spalding Elizabethan Demonol. 16 Until the masses are more educated in theological niceties than they are at present.
1952 W. Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 110 Light and shade, the niceties of intonation, inflection, modulation, etc., in the reading of a part.
1995 C. R. B. Dunlop Creditor-Debtor Law in Canada (ed. 2) ix. 261 The third and subsequent writs are traditionally called pluries writs although this nicety may be disappearing.
b. A minute point or detail; a point or feature in which great accuracy or skill is involved.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > [noun] > quality of being specific or detailed > a detail or particular > minute
minutea1450
quidlibet1611
punto1623
punctilio1631
nicety1649
punctuality1661
minutiae1797
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xv. 141 Above these twenty yeares hath bin ruining the people about the niceties of his ruling.
1699 J. Pomfret Dies Novissima 36 'Tis not for you to ask, nor mine to say, The niceties of that tremendous day.
1754 Bp. T. Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. viii. 229 It will not be worth my Pains..to enter into the Niceties of this Controversy.
1775 S. Johnson Let. 17 June (1992) II. 226 Her present qualifications for the niceties of needlework, being dim eyes and lame fingers.
1839 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe II. i. 12 In the present state of philology, there is incomparably more knowledge of grammatical niceties.
1875 Chambers's Jrnl. 23 Jan. 54 Young women..do not know the niceties of legal proof.
1925 W. Cather Professor's House i. vi. 78 She had always been fastidious to an unreasonable degree about small niceties of deportment.
1990 World Outside: Career Guide 36/1 Some banks have employed physicists to handle the mathematical niceties.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > [noun] > a doubt, scruple
were1338
doubtc1374
incertainty1483
scruple1534
dubitation1545
scrupulosity?a1562
irresolution1592
suspense1594
non liquet1656
nicety1694
reservation1719
hows and whys1726
dubiety1807
1694 in J. Aubrey Misc. (1696) 162 Nay, (says the Fellow) give over these Niceties, for he will be your first Husband.
1719 E. F. Haywood Love in Excess ii. 27 The Letter..at length Triumph'd over all the little niceties and objections my Charmer made against our Journey.
12. A minor aspect of polite social behaviour; a detail or formality of etiquette.
ΚΠ
1931 Amer. Mercury Jan. 50/2 The master, about fifty years old, a veteran Ichabod in pedagogy..began the day without any get-together niceties.
1969 C. Bukowski Days run away like Wild Horses iii. 141 To have any of these [women] would take weeks and months Of torture—introduction, niceties, conversation that Cleaves the soul like a rusty axe—no, no, god damn it! no more!
1986 C. Gebler August in July (1987) 10 Despite the young man having been asked to leave, the proper niceties were being observed.
1994 Reminisce July 6/3 Eventually they got around to business, but only after the niceties had been covered.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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