| 释义 |
plainnessn. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: French planesce , planesse ; plain adj.2, -ness suffix. Etymology: Partly < Anglo-Norman planesce and Middle French planesse flatness, smoothness, plane surface (c1160 in Old French as planece ) < classical Latin plānitiēs (also plānitia ) condition of being level, flatness, flat surface, in post-classical Latin also simplicity (6th cent.), clarity (1267, 1378 in British sources) < plānus flat (see plain adj.2) + -itiēs , variant of -itia -ice suffix1; and partly directly < plain adj.2 + -ness suffix. For a similar parallel development, which did not result in a merger, compare finesse n. and fineness n.Compare Old Occitan planeza (c1300; Occitan planesa), Catalan planícia (14th cent.), Spanish planeza (mid 13th cent.; now only as llaneza), planicie (1385 as planiçia), Italian pianezza (a1294). the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > [noun] α. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) p. 522 Sir Gij drouȝ out þat swerd anon, & alle þe playnes þer-of it schon. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 52 Þe nailes..haþ somdel disposicioun and kynde of horne & clere playnes [L. luciditatem et planiciem], for þe vttir del þerof is clere and briȝt. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) 2 Macc. xiv. 33 Y schal drawe doun this temple of God in to pleynesse [c1384 Douce 369(2) pleyn; L. planitiem]. c1450 tr. Jan van Ruusbroec (BL Add.) (1957) 234 (MED) The playnesse þerof [sc. a stone] informes vs that is to delyuer vs and to rewarde euere man aftyr he hase atheled. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Dij Suche qualities as..hardnes, softnes, roughnes, plaines. 1578 J. Banister i. f. 20v With more flat: and equall playnesse. 1649 W. Blith xviii. 120 Reducing the Hillynesse to Plainess. 2. the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [noun] the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [noun] > frankness, straightforwardness society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > plainness > [noun] 1465 M. Paston in (2004) I. 311 They know not the pleynesse that hathe ben don in such thyngys as hathe ben don in here namys. 1548 f. lvi Of thesame vertue and honest playnnes [1568 R. Grafton plainenesse] was Ihon Morton archebishop of Caunterbury. 1556 J. Heywood xxxii. 24 You haue gifte of pleines sterne and stoute. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Warwick xiv I vsed playnnes, euer pitch and pay. 1606 J. Reynolds Ded., sig. A2v Aiax had an applawdit for his rough plainenes. 1609 W. Shakespeare iv. v. 106 Whilst some with cunning guild their copper crownes, With truth and plainesse I do were mine bare. View more context for this quotation 1629 J. Ford iv. 58 A shrewd-braine Whorson, there's pith In his vntoward plainenesse. 1649 E. Reynolds (new ed.) Epist. 1 I speake with such plainess, as might commend the matter delivered rather to the Conscience of a Penitent, then to the fancy of a delicate hearer. 1702 L. Echard Introd. 20 People of great Courage..and of no less Plainess and Unpoliteness. 1711 16 Apr. 2/1 I shall be sorry if this plainess offends you, I judg'd it necessary towards the Establishing and Cultivating a good understanding betwixt us, and I hope it will be so Constructed, and wish heartily it may have that Effect. 1722 D. Defoe (ed. 2) 46 I had however a great deal of Satisfaction in having spoken my Mind to him in Freedom, and with such an honest Plainess. 1778 F. Burney II. xix. 176 He forced me to express my displeasure with equal plainness. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato (ed. 2) I. 336 My plainness of speech makes them hate me. 1906 22 Jan. 6 Sometimes the more simple-minded apologists..put the thing with astonishing plumpness and plainness. 1989 A. Walker ii. 148 When she did speak, there was a perkiness, a plainness, that was sometimes humorous but always compelling. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [noun] > the plain truth 1477 Earl Rivers tr. (Caxton) (1877) lf. 20v So may not aman be wele counseylled of hys frende withoute he telle hym the playnesse [Fr. verite] of hys cause. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 88 (MED) Lactaunce wrote the voluyme of the Divine Institucions, to the which thow mayst haue a recourse in the pleynnese [Fr. explanation] of this mater. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. (?1560) lxix. sig. Rii I pray you speke & shew me ye playnes. 1537 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman (1902) II. 57 If the said deposicons had been ernestly takyn, the plaines of that mater might haue been easely known. ?1571 tr. G. Buchanan sig. Nij In mair wordes then nedit (the playnnesse of the proues considerit). the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > clearness, lucidity > [noun] society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > clarity > [noun] c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 136 Þouȝ it be open y-nouȝ bi what I haue provid bifore..ȝitt for more pleynes I schal eftsoone schewe þe same. 1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in 171/2 For the more playnnesse let vs put one example or twaine. 1557 N.T. To Rdr. **iij I haue so moderat them [sc. the arguments of Scriptures] with playnenes and breuitie, that the verie ignorant may easely vnderstande them. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid i. f. 1 The demonstrations and proofes..by reason of their playnnes neede no greate declaration. c1613 T. Bodley Extracts Will in (1913) 81 This is my last Will & Testament..I haue indeauoured to vtter it with all kindes of playnes. 1671 W. Salmon Introd. 2 Little with Plainness is better than much with Obscurity. 1757 J. Woolman June (1971) iv. 71 I went to Newbegun Creek and sat a considerable time in much weakness. Then I felt Truth open the way to speak a little in much plainness and simplicity, till at length..we had a seasoning opportunity. 1759 A. Smith v. §i. 379 The quaintness of Butler has given place to the plainness of Swift. 1841 W. Ware II. xv. 69 The plainness with which the Baptist hath announced Jesus as a Prophet above all. 1867 W. G. T. Shedd (1869) iii. 55 This plainness of style is the product of sagacity and keenness. 1978 (Nexis) 28 Aug. 33 You can see why they'd be so proud of their handiwork that they'd put out a press release about the plainness of the English used in the rule. 1999 (Nexis) 27 Sept. His latest topic of conversation, however, is not so hard to understand—party merger. Despite the plainness of the word, however, most are still baffled over what's on the mind of this political veteran. 4. the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > simplicity > [noun] the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > moderation in sensuous gratification > [noun] > simple life 1549 J. Olde tr. Erasmus Prol. ij Therefore where vnnecessary fynesse wanteth, accept true meanyng playnesse. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. sig. Aa.iii And who so list to loke and note thinges somewhat nere: Shall fynd wher playnesse semes to haunt nothing but craft appere. 1581 J. Marbeck 655 In their fare, apparell,..and furniture of warre, they vse a plainenesse. 1649 Bp. J. Taylor ii. 36 The understandings of men are no more satisfied by a pompous magnificence, then by a cheap plainnesse. 1685 J. Dryden Pref. sig. A6 Virgil..maintains Majesty in the midst of plainess;..and is stately without ambition, which is the vice of Lucan. 1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger I. i. xxii. 49 His Temperance in Diet, the Plainness of his Dress, whenever I make him a Visit, give me a true Representation of our ancient Frugality. 1763 H. Walpole III. ii. 93 The excess of plainness in our cathedral disappoints the spectator after so rich an approach. 1782 J. H. St. J. de Crèvecoeur viii. 194 Here they [sc. manners] are strongly attached to plainness of dress. 1848 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. ii. i. 87 These new comers were clad with extreme plainness. 1886 R. L. Stevenson ii. 9 At first I thought the plainness of my appearance..consorted ill with the greatness of the place to which I was bound. 1910 I. 505/1 Its general plainness contrasts with elaborate carving of the stone canopy which shelters the southern portal. 1992 30 Jan. 12/2 Puritanism carried with it a positive aesthetic ideal of plainness, the pure style of the uncluttered Quaker meetinghouse and the undecorated elegance of Commonwealth silver. the world > action or operation > easiness > [noun] > absence of complexity 1669 S. Sturmy ii. vi. 68 This Quadrant..I hold to be as necessary an Instrument as Seamen can use, in respect of its plainness. 1983 L. R. Miller & K. Gilman 133 The look and feel of the original farm changed from a busy mixture of related components to the plainness of a monocrop system. the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > [noun] 1656 vi. 68 Gods bounty, which is first set forth in Natures either plainnesse or beauty. 1753 E. F. Fowler I. iii. 33 I thought Mrs. Becky had been defended by the plainness of her person as well as by her virtue, from all attacks of that nature—but pray who is the man? 1771 C. Powys (1899) 138 This daughter..I've long known by name, being almost a proverb for plainness. Two gentlemen once laid a wager that each could name the ugliest woman in London,..and poor Miss Strahen was mention'd by both! 1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. v. 49 This was far more than sufficient to atone for the plainness of my person. 1873 T. Hardy I. xii. 273 I suppose her age and plainness were too pronounced for a town man. 1915 W. Cather iii. ii. 261 Thea noticed that her plainness was accounted to her credit, and that people spoke of it affectionately. 2001 17 Sept. 170/3 He's a solid, earnest fellow..and his pale plainness has an almost heroic quality. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.c1330 |
