vehemence
(ˈviːɪməns, ˈviːhɪməns)
Also 6 -ens.
[a. late OF. vehemence (F. véhémence), or ad. L. vehementia: see next.
‘In this and the related words the only pron. recognized by dictionaries, with the exception of the most recent, is that with (ˈviːh-); this is now unusual in Britain, but appears to be still the standard pron. in the United States.’—N.E.D.]
1. Intensity or strength of smell or colour. rare.
| 1535 Coverdale 2 Macc. ix. 10 Him might no man now abyde ner beare, for the vehemence of styncke. 1844 Hood Haunted Ho. iii. xvii, The Bloody Hand shone strangely out With vehemence of colour! |
2. Impetuosity, great force or violence, of physical action or agents.
| 1542 Boorde Dyetary xxxv. (1870) 297 The dust also that ryseth in the strete thorow the vehemens of the wynde. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 954 A universal hubbub wilde Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd..assaults his eare With loudest vehemence. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. iv. iii, His eyes are dragged inwards, and rolled with great vehemence. 1794 R. J. Sulivan View Nat. I. 148 The action, by which a body is deprived of phlogiston by means of pure air, with such vehemence as to generate not only heat but flame. 1857 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. 49 Owing to the feebler affinities of these elements, the reactions take place with less vehemence. |
3. Great or excessive ardour, eagerness, or fervour of personal feeling or action; passionate force, violence, or excitement.
| 1529 More Dyaloge Wks. 265/2 By waye of excesse & yperbole, to declare the vehemence of his mynde in the matter of fayth. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. ii. 200 Nay, I pre'thee now, with most petitionary vehemence, tell me who it is. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. viii. 35 Sometimes the hurt..is caused by the vehemence, or long continuance of the Passion. 1699 Burnet 39 Art. i. 27 Passion produces a Vehemence of Action. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. x. 544 Hypocrisy and fraud are often not less mischievous..than impetuosity and vehemence of temper. 1769 Junius Lett. xxxv. (1778) 187 You measure their affections by the vehemence of their expressions. 1839 Dickens Nich. Nick. xii, With all the vehemence that his indignant and excited feelings could bring to bear upon it. 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 29 With an almost savage vehemence of gesticulation. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. §1. 347 Cromwell..was quick to profit by the vehemence of the Catholic reaction. |
b. An instance of this. rare.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. 33 Is it possible that my brother and sister could make their very failings, their vehemences, of such importance to all the family? |