solidityn.
/səˈlɪdɪti/ 1.
a. The quality of being solid or substantial, in various figurative or transferred senses.
ΚΠ
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 720/2 The trouth of Goddes woorde..hath his solidyte, substaunce and fastnesse of and in it selfe.
a1610 J. Healey tr. Cebes' Table in tr. Epictetus Manuall (1636) 150 The genius bids them, never give credence unto her, never to imagine any solidity in her bounties.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 61 No Kingdom..in the solidity of the Laws..was more Secure than England.
1788 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 542 Assure me of the solidity of your recovery.
1804 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) III. 213 Prussia has grown up so fast that there is a want of solidity.
1866 J. R. Seeley Ecce Homo (ed. 8) iv. 36 Human relations gained a solidity and permanence which they had never before seemed to have.
1871 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) II. ii. 39 That unsubstantial pageant of the imagination to which the solidity of science is opposed.
b. Of persons, in respect of learning, judgement, character, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > [noun]
steadfastnessa1000
anrednessOE
stead-stathelfastness?c1225
stability13..
steadfastshipc1320
traistnessa1340
constance1340
sadnessc1384
unmovablenessc1384
hardnessa1400
steadfastheadc1400
unmobletya1425
firmitya1450
constancy1526
constantness1530
firmitude?1541
firmness1553
stoutness1561
settledness1571
cleaving1580
solidity1607
immovableness1617
staunchness1623
fixedness1626
fixationa1631
unswayednessa1656
steadiness1663
sturdiness1675
unbendingness1824
indomitability1851
indomitableness1860
thick and thin1884
fixity1885
unshakability1907
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 639 Now I know such is the solidity of diuers Readers & people, that [etc.].
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Hants. 9 Men resembled him to one of the Ships-Royal..called the Swift-sure, such his celerity and solidity in all Affairs.
1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Consol. Philos. iv. pr. i. (1712) 176 These..things..may put an end to thy Complaints, and strengthen thee with all Firmness and Solidity.
1723 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 33 The King expressed at that time an uncommon esteem of Mr. Henderson for his learning, piety, and solidity.
1756 M. Calderwood Lett. & Jrnls. (1884) iii. 87 One must admire them for their solidity, industry, and pains-taking in every thing.
1821 Rich Journ. Persepolis 12 Sept. in Babylon & P. (1839) 268 The Persians are unthinking, perpetually joking, and deficient in solidity.
1869 A. Maclaren Serm. preached in Manch. 2nd Ser. vii. 120 Without that armour, there will not be solidity enough in our character.
c. Of argument, demonstration, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > [noun] > strength of evidence
strength?c1400
solidity1646
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > argument, source of conviction > [noun] > strength of argument
strength?c1400
of…validity1581
logic1601
pregnancy1622
solidity1646
cogency1690
pregnantness1727
validness1727
cogence1782
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. vi. 20 Establishing their assertion, not onely with great solidity.
1667 M. Poole Dialogue between Popish Priest & Protestant 78 Not for any solidity of Argument (that had been pedantick).
1677 J. Owen Doctr. Justif. by Faith xii, in Wks. (1851) III. 263 Such niceties have more of philosophical subtlety than theological solidity in them.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 560 [Johnson:] That the Colonists could with no solidity argue..that they should not now be taxed.
1826 J. Kent Comm. Amer. Law I. i. 18 In cases where the principal jurists agree, the presumption will be very great in favour of the solidity of their maxims.
1865 E. B. Pusey Eirenicon 136 A remarkable response, objecting to the decree with much solidity and clearness.
d. Of judgement.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > good or sound judgement > quality of
sobriety1548
soundnessa1600
solidity1727
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Soundness,..Solidity of Judgment.
1774 T. Reid Aristotle's Logic ii. §2. 28 In proportion to the solidity and accuracy of a man's judgment.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 23 Good sense, perspicuity, accuracy, and solidity of judgment.
1882 B. A. Hinsdale Garfield & Educ. i. 116 Close observation, high analytical..ability, solidity of judgment.
2.
a. The quality or condition of being materially solid; compactness and firmness of texture, structure, etc. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > [noun]
fastness?a1200
spissitudec1440
solidiousness1495
grossness1527
massiveness1530
substantialness1530
substantiality1535
crassness1545
massiness1559
stiffness1577
spissness1598
solidness1600
density1603
solidity1603
crassitude1604
condensity1611
thightness1615
compactedness1644
compactness1646
body1647
crassities1659
denseness1669
tightnessa1728
corporeity1750
substantiability1816
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1302 A land altogether barren and unfruitfull, by reason of hardnesse and stiffe soliditie.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 238 Tunnie;..in taste something resembling flesh, as in colour and soliditie.
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xxxi. 381 We may discern between hardness and softness, a middle temperament, which is called solidity and firmness.
1704 J. Norris Ess. Ideal World II. i. 46 Solidity, according to the vulgar and popular sense of it, wherein it is used for hardness.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 213 They have the solidity of the hardest bone.
1841 T. R. Jones Gen. Outl. Animal Kingdom xxv. 446 A fibro-cartilaginous substance..fills the interior of each mandible, and thus gives it sufficient solidity for all required purposes.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy ix When they came to take the hay~stack to pieces, the solidity of its centre rather astonished them.
b. Of buildings, edifices, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > [noun] > quality of building generally
solidity1662
substantiality1790
1662 B. Gerbier Brief Disc. Princ. Building (title page) The three chief Principles of Magnificent Building, viz. Solidity, Conveniency, and Ornament.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 72 They load the edifice of society, by setting up in the air what the solidity of the structure requires to be on the ground. View more context for this quotation
1833 L. Ritchie Wanderings by Loire 25 The château..strikes the spectator by its solidity and magnificence.
1867 R. W. Emerson Lett. & Social Aims in Wks. (1906) III. 227 Our..architecture [is] tent-like, when compared with the monumental solidity of mediæval..remains in Europe and Asia.
3.
a. Geometry. The amount of space occupied by a solid body; volume, cubic or solid content.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > [noun] > geometrical property
duality1532
magnitude1570
solidity1570
order1706
symmetry1823
unicursality1887
self-coincidence1902
closure1905
non-orientability1938
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [noun] > a) dimension(s) > property of having three dimensions > volume
bulkc1449
birth1553
capacity?a1560
crassitude?a1560
solidity1570
content1612
bouka1689
volume1794
cubage1840
1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. aiijv To vnderstand the Soliditie, and content of any bodily thing.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. F6v [The soul] finds out Phœbus vast soliditie By his diametre.
a1690 S. Jeake Λογιστικηλογία (1696) 524 If a Right Cylinder have the Diameter 14, and the Height..as much; then shall the Area of each Base be 154,..and the Solidity 2156.
1743 W. Emerson Doctr. Fluxions 127 To find a Cone of the greatest Solidity under a given convex Surface and Base b.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 551 Find the solidity of the trench in cubic feet, and divide it by 27.
1834 J. S. Macaulay Treat. Field Fortification 285 The solidity of the frustrum will be equal to the solidity of the whole cone.
b. Relative density or mass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > [noun] > specific gravity
density1665
specific gravity1666
solidity1698
gravity1750
relative density1776
1698 J. Keill Exam. Theory Earth (1734) 33 The surfaces of bodies not increasing in the same proportion with their solidities or weights.
1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis 2 Attraction in all Bodies is cæteris paribus as their Solidities.
1740 G. Cheyne Ess. Regimen 2 It is probable, that animated Bodies act according to their Solidities.
c. The ratio of the area of the blades of a propeller (counting one side only) to the area of the circle they turn in.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > parts which provide power > [noun] > propeller > ratios, etc., of
slip1844
slip angle1878
slip ratio1878
solidity1926
1926 H. Glauert Elem. Aerofoil & Airscrew Theory xvi. 213 This quantity σ represents the ratio of the area of the blade elements to the area of the annulus at the radial distance τ, and may be termed the solidity of the blade element.
1953 D. O. Dommasch Elem. Propeller & Helicopter Aerodynamics ii. 61 As far as propeller operation is concerned, increasing solidity has much the same effect as decreasing the aspect ratio of the wing.
1980 Sci. Amer. July 114/2 The twin screws of the 31-knot Queen Elizabeth 2, each of which absorbs 55,000 h.p., are appreciably smaller, turn much faster and have an even greater solidity than the screws of the largest tankers.
4.
a. The property of occupying a certain amount of space.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > [noun] > space occupied by something > property of occupying space
solidity1690
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. iv. 48 That which thus hinders the approach of two Bodies, when they are moving one towards another, I call Solidity.
1777 J. Priestley Doctr. Philos. Necessity 177 A substance that has no properties besides extension and solidity.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 270 The solidity of matter..expresses that property which every body possesses of not permitting any other body to occupy the same place with it at the same time.
1884 B. Bosanquet et al. tr. H. Lotze Metaphysic 304 He mentions Lambert's account of Solidity as a necessary property of all material existence.
b. Extension in the three dimensions of space.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [noun] > a) dimension(s) > property of having three dimensions
solidity1864
tridimensionality1894
three-dimensionality1926
1864 A. Bain Senses & Intellect (ed. 2) i. ii. 240 It is this dissimilarity of the pictures that is the chief optical sign of solidity or of three dimensions.
1886 J. Sully Teacher's Handbk. Psychol. viii. 140 That the eye has little knowledge of solidity.
5. A solid thing or body. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > [noun] > a dense or solid thing or body
clota1000
goba1382
massa1382
gobbetc1384
clustera1387
lumpa1400
grume1555
solidity1604
concrescence1610
concression1613
concretion1646
ponderant1656
condensation1665
clumper1673
clue1674
solid1698
clump1699
wodge1847
density1858
boulder1861
doorstop1967
swadge1968
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [noun] > thing or material object
thingOE
bodya1398
objecta1398
substance1525
cheat1567
solidity1604
article1618
material objecta1651
res extensa1652
extensum1678
businessa1684
animal1729
materiate1755
affair1763
thingy1787
fellow1816
concern1824
jockey1827
toy1895
yoke1910
doojigger1927
bitch1951
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 48 Heauens face doth glowe Ore this solidity and compound masse..Is thought sick.
1665 T. H. Exact Surv. Affaires Netherlands 195 Their Apparel was plain, and their Ambition onely upon Realities and Solidities.
1728 R. Morris Ess. Anc. Archit. 43 It has a greater Force to sustain the Solidity it supports.
1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing 324 By convenience is meant a firm solidity to place the end of the Braces against.
1844 T. Hood Turtles 36 Fruits, victual, drink, solidities, or slops.
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. ix. 216 A man..owed a great deal more to himself as the mainstay of all those solidities, than to feelings..quite unsubstantial.
6. = solidarity n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal concepts > [noun] > aggregates of rights and duties > obligation involving joint rights and duties
solidity1706
solidarity1875
1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. ix. 431 (note) Solidity in the French Law is a joint Obligation entred into by several Creditors, by which every one of the Obligees binds himself to pay what they all owe in Common, upon the default of the rest.
1818 H. T. Colebrooke Treat. Obligations & Contracts xiv. 149 This solidity in respect of creditors is very rare: it is not to be confounded with indivisibility of obligation.
1818 H. T. Colebrooke Treat. Obligations & Contracts xiv. 149 The effects of solidity towards creditors, when it does occur, are as follow. Each of the creditors, being so for the whole, may consequently demand the whole [etc.].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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