meekness
(ˈmiːknɪs)
Forms: see meek a.; also 4 mikeness, mueknesse, 6 meacknesse, meakenes, mykenes.
[f. meek a. + -ness.]
The quality of being meek; gentleness of spirit; humility.
| c 1200 Ormin 3612 Þatt dide he forr to shæwenn swa Unnseȝȝendliȝ meocnesse. a 1240 Wohunge in Cott. Hom. 273 Meknesse and mildschipe makes mon eihwer luued. a 1300 Cursor M. 9996 Sco serued in vr lauerd dright, In mikenes suet, bath dai and night. 1340 Ayenb. 65 God þet loueþ Mueknesse and zoþnesse. c 1400 Destr. Troy 3941 Eneas was..A man full of mekenes & mery of his chere. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 331/2 Mekenesse, and softenesse, mansuetudo, clemencia. 1542–5 Brinklow Lament. (1874) 108 Yet for all their outwarde meakenes and holynes, they be within rauenynge wolues. 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) N vij, You shall use towardes me suche meacknesse, lyke as God usethe unto all sinnars. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, v. iii. 62 Loue and meekenesse, Lord, Become a Churchman, better then Ambition. 1741 Richardson Pamela II. 310 It must be owing to my Meekness, more than his Complaisance. 1860 J. W. Warter Sea-board II. 161 Gentle natures in which grace has kindled meekness. |