sweetnessn.
/ˈswiːtnɪs/ The quality of being sweet, concrete something sweet.† 8. Addiction to sweet things; self-indulgence. Obsolete. rare.
1.
a.
(a) Of taste or flavour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun]
sweetnessc897
honey1340
sweetc1381
suavityc1450
dulcetness1528
dulcitude1605
honeyedness1611
sweetinga1626
nectareousness1847
saccharinity1868
c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xvii. 125 & eac sceal bion on ðæm breostum ðæs monnan swetnes.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 55 Þe zuetnesse of þe mete.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 89 One [oil] for þe rednes and swetnez is called sanguis veneris.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 34v The bittrenesse of the aloe tre distroyeth the swittenesse of the hony.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. i. f. 56 These apples..haue a certeyne sweetnes myxte with a gentell sharpnes.
1588 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso Housholders Philos. f. 5v The Malmesey, Greeke & Roman Wines..haue some kind of sweetnes.
1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 251 Instead of Dirt and Poison, we have rather chose to fill our Hives with Honey and Wax, thus furnishing Mankind with the two Noblest of Things, which are Sweetness and Light.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 190 Has God then giv'n its sweetness to the cane..in vain?
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. ii. 154 The sweetness of every kind of fruit..is known to arise from sugar.
(b) sweetness and light, taken from Swift (see quot. 1704 at sense 1a(a) above) and used with æsthetic or moral reference; now usually in trivial (frequently ironic) use, under influence of senses 6, 7: pleasantness, good will.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun]
goodnessOE
mund?c1250
daintethc1290
bountyc1300
daintyc1300
excellencec1384
virtuea1393
excellency?a1400
nobilitya1400
meritc1425
singularity?c1450
fineness1523
admirationa1533
rareness1545
rightness1561
rariety1566
rarity1566
excellentness1569
beautya1586
admirableness1607
primeness1611
gallantry1650
eximiety1656
optimity1656
altesse1660
unexceptionableness1669
excellingness1701
quality1803
sterlingness1815
stupendosity1828
goodliness1832
superbness1832
unexceptionability1837
sweetness and light1867
class1884
rortiness1885
rippingness1903
superstardom1928
motherfucker1977
awesomeness1998
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > aesthetic quality or good taste > [noun] > pleasantness to the aesthetic sense
sweetnessa1568
harmony1650
sweetness and light1867
aesthetic1926
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [noun] > agreeable behaviour
pleasancec1350
agreeability?c1400
douceurc1400
plausibility1596
amenity1612
agreeablenessa1631
geniality1652
complacence1767
sweetness and light1867
genialness1888
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
society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > [noun]
sibeOE
grithc1000
saughtc1100
grithfulness?c1225
peacec1230
peaceablenessa1382
paxc1390
sweetness and light1927
1867 M. Arnold Culture & its Enemies [Culture & Anarchy] in Cornhill Mag. July 45 Their ideal of beauty and sweetness and light, and a human nature complete on all its sides.
1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. viii. xxviii. 567 Gallio..was pre-eminently endowed with that light and sweetness which are signs of the utmost refinement.
1927 P. G. Wodehouse Meet Mr. Mulliner vi. 186 He had been all sweetness and light and had not done a thing to them.
1949 N. Balchin Sort of Traitors xi. 191 You know how it is when you've got to poke about round somebody else's work—it's not all sweetness and light as a rule.
1953 ‘P. Wentworth’ Anna, where are You? vii. 45 A desire to spread sweetness and light.
1968 G. Jones Hist. Vikings ii. iii. 106 Anskar, the monk of Corbey,..whose sweetness and light were probably much lightened and sweetened by his biographer Rimbert.
1974 Times 16 Jan. 16/5 When this Act was introduced it was done..to create sweetness and light between management and unions.
1982 Sunday Tel. 12 Dec. 14/5 Hell hath no fury like a peace-woman scorned, by comparison with whom even a Cruise missile becomes a soft symbol of sweetness and light.
b. concrete. Something sweet to the taste; a sweet substance. spec. molasses. (Canadian).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun] > sweet thing
sweetnessc725
sweeta1300
nectary1598
ambrosia1605
the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > syrup > [noun] > in sugar manufacture > molasses
molasses1582
syrup1599
treacle1694
long sweetening1714
syrup of sugar1715
long sugar1728
'lasses1775
longlick1826
sweetness1920
c725 Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) A 524 Ambrosea, suoetnis.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Joel ii. 18 And it shal be, in that day mounteyns shuln droppe swetnes.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (W. de W.) xix. xliii Swetnesse layed to the tonge openyth moderatly and hetyth moderatly.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Mvjv Who hath not of sowrenes felte the bitter tast, Is not worthy of swetenes to take his repast.
1655 G. S. in S. Hartlib Reformed Common-wealth Bees 27 There is worthily a great difference to be acknowledged between Honey and other inspissated sweetnesses.
1890 Opelousas (Louisiana) Democrat 20 Dec. 2/1 Sweetness by the barrel, bon-bons, sugar plums [etc.].
1912 N. Duncan Best of Bad Job xxi. 143 T' beg a barrel o' flour an' a gallon o' sweetness.
1920 W. T. Grenfell Labrador Doctor viii. 164 The fact that we were without butter, and that ‘sweetness’ (molasses) was low, was scarcely even noticed.
2. Of smell or odour: Fragrance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant quality
sweetnessc900
sootnessc1000
redolence1447
suavityc1450
fragrancy1578
sweet1594
odoriferousness1599
fragrantness1600
muskiness1727
aromaticness1731
balsamicness1737
lightness1799
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iv. x. 292 Micel swetnes wundorlices stences.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 145 Þer scal beon..smellinge mid swetnesse.
c1220 Bestiary 750 Ut of his ðrote cumeð a smel..ðat ouer-cumeð haliweie wið swetnesse.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 216 Whanne men schullen..smelle..þe swettenesse & good odour of herbis.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Prol. 120 Floures..Of swich suetnesse and swich odour ouer al.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §489 I thinke Rosemary will leese in Sweetnesse, if it be set with Lauender.
1751 T. Gray Elegy xiv. 8 Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desart air.
1871 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David II. Ps. xlv. 8 All his dress is fragrant with all sweetness.
3.
a. Of sound: Melodiousness, musical quality.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [noun]
sweetness1398
euphonia1591
suavity1614
euphony1623
euphonicalness1668
listenability1946
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [noun] > beauty of sound or melody
melodyc1300
harmonyc1384
sweetness1398
melodiousness1530
tunableness1561
well-sounding1594
air1597
chime1608
suavity1614
melos1740
songfulness1850
tunefulness1882
tuniness1905
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) v. xxiii Orpheus..plesid treen wodes hulles and stones with swetnes of his voice.
1448–9 J. Metham Amoryus & Cleopes 410 Syngyng in ther lay With mornyng joy in sqwetnes off songe.
1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 30 The swetenesse of the tongue, the wholsomnesse of the aire in other countries.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xii. sig. Oo2 The rare sweetnesse of the melody.
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel To Rdr. p. i There's a sweetness in good Verse, which Tickles even while it Hurts.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. i. 1 The sweetness and fine expression of her voice.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. i. 30 Rude societies have versification, and often versification of great power and sweetness.
1852 G. Dubourg Violin (ed. 4) ix. 353 His violoncellos..are..not so strong..as old Forster's, but, in sweetness and purity, excelling them.
b. A sweet sound or tone. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [noun] > a pleasant sound
noisec1390
sweetnessc1540
sweet1590
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [noun] > note or tone > sweet note
sweetnessc1540
dulcet?1578
flute-note1833
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 342 There was wellit to wale water full nobill,..with plentius stremes, With a swoughe and a swetnes sweppit on þe grounde.
1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 36 With many a winding bout Of lincked sweetnes long drawn out.
1651 Bp. J. Taylor XXVIII Serm. xix. 238 It is not the eye that sees the beauties of the heaven, nor the ear that hears the sweetnesses of musick.
1895 F. Thompson New Poems 107 The wailful sweetness of the violin Floats down the hushèd waters of the wind.
4. In specific uses, denoting various desirable physical qualities, e.g. freshness (as opposed to saltness, putridity, etc.), mellowness (of soil), etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > freedom from impurities > [noun]
freshnessa1398
sweetnessc1400
purity?1440
pureness1528
mereness1648
sterility1877
drivenness1894
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) i. 7 The Watre of the See is fressche and holdethe his swetnesse 20 Myle within the See.
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. 52 It giueth libertie to the tongue,..and keepeth the mouth in tendernesse and sweetnesse.
a1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 311 Neere 1000 beds..in a very long rome having an inner <passage>..with as much curiosity, sweetenesse and Conveniency as can be imagin'd.
1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 46 The Remedy of this is, to give it constantly its due Course of Fallowings, whereby it may enjoy a thorough Sweetness.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 355 This powder will also restore the sweetness of flesh-meat but slightly tainted with putridity.
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm III. 1046 Oil-cake..is an excellent medicine for live-stock,..giving to the hide a sweetness of coat unattainable by other means.
1894 H. Walrond in C. J. Longman et al. Archery (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xvii. 297 No bow can come up to a good self for sweetness, softness, and steadiness in the hand when it is loosed.
5.
a. Pleasantness to the senses generally, esp. the sight; pleasantness of aspect, artistic effect, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > aesthetic quality or good taste > [noun] > pleasantness to the aesthetic sense
sweetnessa1568
harmony1650
sweetness and light1867
aesthetic1926
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 56v The right forme..fit and dew, to the dignitie of a man, to the bewtie of a woman, to the sweetnes of a yong babe.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 118 Baie, an ancient Citie, and for the sweetnesse preferred to Rome by Horace.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Cambr. 149 It is confess'd, that Oxford far exceeds it [sc. Cambridge] for sweetness of situation.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (1721) I. 285 The use that is made of it [sc. wax] for Lights, the clearness and sweetness of which makes it preferr'd before all other Sorts.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Prose Wks. (1888) I. 407 The curved lines of her fine limbs flow into each other with a never-ending sinuosity of sweetness.
1888 M. E. Braddon Fatal Three I. v. 79 House and gardens had all the sweetness and freshness of a scene to which one is restored after absence.
b. as a technical term of Art.
ΚΠ
1695 J. Dryden tr. R. de Piles in tr. C. A. Du Fresnoy De Arte Graphica 220 He painted with great Strength, great Heightning, great Sweetness, and liveliness of Colours.
1706 J. Savage tr. R. de Piles Art of Painting 75 His Colouring had not the vigour and sweetness of Giacomo Bassano's.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 770 The pen should have a diamond point, which..imparts an admirable degree of regularity and sweetness to the work.
1816 J. Reynolds Life Raffaello, etc. 156 The gliding motion of his [sc. Correggio's] outline, and the sweetness with which it melts into the ground.
6.
a. Pleasantness to the mind or feelings; delightfulness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [noun] > and pleasing
sweetnessc900
grace1340
ornament1531
moonshine1607
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
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iv. xxiv. 346 Bi swetnesse þæs heofonlecan rices he monig leoð geworhte.
971 Blickl. Hom. 37 Swa we sceolon eac ure heortan gefyllan mid þære swetnesse godcundra beboda.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 92 Þe more þet lykeþ þe zuetnesse of þe wordle þe lesse me wylneþ þe zuetnesse of god.
a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 198 Iesu, suete is þe loue of þe,..Al þat may wiþ eȝen se, haueth no suetnesse aȝeynes þe.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 57 Thei..resten as hem liketh best In all the swetnesse of delices.
c1440 York Myst. xlvii. 137 All kynnys swetnesse is þer-in.
1528 W. Tyndale Obed. Christen Man To Rdr. f. xvv To translate it welfaveredly, so that it have the same grace and swetnesse..in the latyne, as it hath in the hebrue.
1607 T. Rogers Faith, Doctr., & Relig. 55 Neither shall they be partakers of the sweetnes of this truth.
1699 T. Baker Refl. Learning iv. 38 He..to whom he gives the Force of Demosthenes, the Sweetness of Isocrates, and the Copia of Plato.
1748 J. Geddes Ess. Composition Antients 7 The two things then, which every good writer either in prose or verse is to aim at, are sweetness and dignity.
1840 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (1842) V. xxii. 365 Even sorrow must have a sweetness, if love be in it.
b. Pleasant feeling, delight, pleasure; also, a source of delight or pleasure. Now rare or merged in other senses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > [noun]
lustc888
lustfulnessa900
queemnesseOE
mirtheOE
estec1000
winOE
queemc1175
sweetness?c1225
solace1297
dutea1300
lustinga1300
joyingc1300
jollityc1330
lustiheadc1369
lustinessc1374
sweet1377
voluptyc1380
well-pleasinga1382
pleasancec1385
pleasurea1393
volupta1398
easementc1400
pleasingc1400
complacencec1436
pleasec1475
satisfaction1477
likancea1500
oblectation1508
beauty1523
aggradation1533
pleasurancec1540
joc1560
likement1577
contentment1587
beloving1589
gratification1598
savouriness1599
entertain1601
pleasedness1626
well-apaidness1633
well-pleasedness1633
pleasingness1649
complacency1652
adlubescence1656
enjoyment1665
volupe1669
musica1674
pleasantry1740
barrel of fun (laughs, etc.)1915
the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [noun] > source of pleasure
honeycombOE
sweetness?c1225
dainty1340
sweet1377
delicec1390
lust1390
pleasancec1390
pleasingc1390
well-queema1400
well-queemnessa1400
douceurc1400
delectation?a1425
pleasure1443
pleaserc1447
delectabilitiesa1500
deliciositiesa1500
honeydew1559
delicacy1586
fancy1590
sugar candy1591
regalo1622
happiness1637
deliciousness1651
complacence1667
regalea1677
sweetener1741
bon-bon1856
Bones1869
jam1871
true love1893
nuts1910
barrel of fun (laughs, etc.)1915
G-spot1983
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 82 Þis cos..aswetnesse & a delit of heorte swa unmete swete.
c1230 Hali Meid. 7 Swuch swettnesse þu schalt ifinden in his luue & in his seruise..þet [etc.].
a1240 Ureisun in Old Eng. Hom. I. 183 Ihesu min hali loue min sikere swetnesse [printed spetnesse].
c1386 G. Chaucer Melibeus ⁋192 Salomon seith That ..‘the conseil of trewe freendes yeueth swetenesse to the soule.’
a1400 Prymer (St. John's Cambr.) (1891) 51 Heyl queene mooder of mercy, oure lyf and oure swetnesse.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 280 Whan þin herte is harde as a stone, & hath no deuocyoun to god, ne loue, ne dreed, ne swetnesse.
c1485 Digby Myst., Mary Magdalene 794 O lord Iesu, ower melleflueus swettnesse.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. HHHvv To..vse that maner of prayer..in the which he fyndeth most swetnesse.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. fiiiv Swetenesse of grace.
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. ii. 9 They feele such a sweetnesse in play and idlenesse, as they can hardly bee framed to leaue it.
1863 E. B. Pusey Serm. Matt. v. 4. 6 Rather it is an abiding sorrow, sweeter than all life's sweetnesses.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. iii. 102 Such glow of love Possesses me and sweetness of desire.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 14 Sept. 5/2 She was one of those brave souls who have fought the good fight with little help of spiritual sweetnesses.
7. Of disposition, manner, or conduct: Graciousness, gentleness, kindliness, mildness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > [noun]
sweetnessc1000
mildnessOE
lithenessc1175
mildshipa1200
softnessa1200
mildheadc1300
softheadc1350
mansuetudec1390
tendresse1390
tendernessa1400
gentleness?c1400
mansuetiea1500
suavitude1512
treatableness1526
placability1531
lenity1548
pleasableness1556
mollity1562
fair1599
lenitude1627
placableness1647
unaggressiveness1870
c1000 Ags. Ps. (1835) xxx. 21 [xxxi. 19] Hu micel..is seo mycelnes þinre swetnesse.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 186 Iesu cristes deorewurðe wordes þe iluue weren alle & i swotnesse.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 145 Mansuetudo oþer beningnitas þet is zuyetnesse of herte.
c1366 G. Chaucer A.B.C. 51 Glorious mayde and moder..ful of swetnesse and mercy euer.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9803 Mikel it was his suetnes þan, Mikel reuth he had þat sith o man.
c1450 Mirk's Festial 220 Aȝeynes passyon he schowyd louyng swetenes.
1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) ii. i, in Wks. I. 19 So full of man, and sweetnesse in his carriage.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper ii. 102 Grace of Regeneration..introduceth gracious habits of sweetnesse, peace and love.
1680 T. Otway Orphan i. 2 They're both of Nature mild, and full of sweetness.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 708 In his speech was heard Paternal sweetness, dignity, and love.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxxiv. 300 She repaid Miss Crawley's engoûment by artless sweetness and friendship.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. x. 73 In his eyes and mouth there was an expression of honesty and sweetness which endeared him to the heart of the lonely prince.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [noun] > appetite for specific kind of food
sweet tooth1390
sweetnessc1440
greasy stomach1592
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) xxx. 110 He yaf him so muche to this swettnes, that he wolde not thens, but yete hony, and made him murye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. iv. 45 To remit Their sawcie sweetnes, that do coyne heauens Image In stamps that are forbid. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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