slimnessn.
/ˈslɪmnɪs/ 1. Slenderness; (graceful) thinness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > slim shape or physique > [noun] > state of having
smallnessa1387
gentilessec1405
slendernessa1538
gracility1623
slimness1727
slightness1788
jimpness1885
petiteness1887
1727 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II
1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. ii. 115 The slimness of their bodies, and great length of tail.
1816 J. Keats Epist. to C. C. Clarke 87 To see..morning shadows streaking into slimness Across the lawny fields.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. ii. 33 An effect which was due to the slimness of her figure.
1893 F. F. Moore I forbid Banns xi Young ladies, who, with all the insolence of slimness, called her stout.
2. Artfulness, wiliness, cunning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun]
listOE
wiþercraftc1175
wilta1230
craftc1275
sleightc1275
engine?a1300
quaintisec1300
vaidiec1325
wilec1374
cautelc1375
sophistryc1385
quaintnessc1390
voisdie1390
havilon?a1400
foxeryc1400
subtletyc1400
undercraftc1400
practic?a1439
callidityc1450
policec1450
wilinessc1450
craftiness1484
gin1543
cautility1554
cunning1582
cautelousness1584
panurgy1586
policy1587
foxshipa1616
cunningnessa1625
subdolousness1635
dexterity1656
insidiousnessa1677
versuteness1685
pawkiness1687
sleight-hand1792
pawkery1820
vulpinism1851
downiness1865
foxiness1875
slimness1899
slypussness1908
1899 Westm. Gaz. 27 Dec. 1/2 Courage is no good unless it is backed up by what the Boers themselves call ‘slimness’.
1900 Daily Tel. 2 Oct. 6/1 A double dose of original slimness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
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n.1727