ˈpreciousness
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
1. The quality of being precious; valuableness, costliness; value.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶372 And eek in to greet preciousnesse of vessel, and curiositee of Mynstralcie, by whiche a man is stired the moore to delices of luxurie. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 412/1 Preciowsnesse (or preciowste), preciositas. 1527 R. Thorne in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 252 The preciousnesse of these things is measured after the distance that is betweene vs, and the things that we have appetite vnto. 1644 Evelyn Diary 19 Oct., The font and pulpit..is of inestimable value for the preciousnesse of the materials. 1663–70 South Serm. (1727) IV. vii. 292 The Preciousness of Gospel Dispensations. 1877 Boutell in Encycl. Brit. VI. 454/2 (Costume) In the best period of Greek art,..the Jewellery is of value according to its workmanship; but in later times preciousness of material determined the value. 1883 Ruskin Fors Clav. xci. 185 Not calculating..any of these singular powers or preciousnesses. |
b. Rare beauty or excellence, such as one prizes.
| 1870 Ruskin Lect. Art vii. 176 In some birds..the colour nearly reaches a floral preciousness. |
† 2. That which is precious. Obs. rare.
| c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) v. 33 Wysdam is better than all wordly preciosnesse. |
3. Over-refinement, fastidiousness, affectation of distinction; = preciosity 3.
| 1884 Harper's Mag. Oct. 800/2 At this stage of our literature, it is wiser to turn..away from ‘preciousness’ of every kind. 1888 W. Morris in Mackail Life (1899) II. 206 Perhaps I am not doing the most I can, merely for the sake of a piece of ‘preciousness’. |