corpulence
(ˈkɔːpjʊləns)
[a. F. corpulence, ad. L. corpulentia, n. of quality f. corpulentus corpulent: see -ence.]
† 1. Habit of body; size. Obs.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 12 b, Her.. ladyly may[n]tiene and her noble facon and corpulence. c 1489 ― Blanchardyn xxiv. (1890) 82 He was of so hyghe & bygge corpulence. 1491 ― Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. i. 3 b/2 Of corpulence he was lene by his abstynence. |
2. Bulk of body; over-bulkiness, obesity.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxi. (1887) 90 Running..abateth the fleshinesse, and corpulence of the body. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 483 Some of Serpent kinde, Wondrous in length and corpulence. 1871 G. H. Napheys Prev. & Cure Dis. iii. i. 615 The dryness of the air is not favourable to corpulence in our country [U.S.]. |
b. concr. Corpulent persons. (nonce-use.)
| 1884 Pall Mall G. 13 Sept. 2/1 A real family boat, crowded with corpulence of both sexes. |
† 3. Material quality or substance; corporeity. Obs. rare.
| a 1625 Boys Wks. (1629) 584 Distinct and divers from the substance and corpulence of the wood. |