smallness en · NOUN
Etymology
From Middle English smalnesse; equivalent to small + -ness.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The state or quality of being small.
The exiguity and ſmallneſſe of ſome ſeeds extending to large productions is one of the magnalities of nature, ſomewhat illuſtrating the work of the Creation, and vaſt production from nothing.
1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter III.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 136:My hand was lifted at her door to knock, when I recollected the smallness of the island. We could never hide ourselves upon it.
1904, Jack London, chapter 32, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:His smallness didn't bother him, except when he needed something off the top shelf.
Mr. Howden forcibly expressed his view that the U.T.A. [Ulster Transport Authority] rail system "had reached the limit of its smallness".
1963 January, “The Irish scene”, in Modern Railways, page 16:
- (countable) The result or product of being small.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| smallnesse | alternative | lexicographic | |
| smallnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (25)
grc μικρότης (state of being small) · fr petitesse (state of being small) · ru ме́лкость (state of being small) · pl małość (state of being small) · fi pienuus (state of being small) · tr küçüklük (state of being small) · is smæð (state of being small) · es menudencia (state of being small) · zu ubuncane (state of being small) · ar صِغَر (state of being small) · io mikreso (state of being small) · la parvitās (state of being small) · eo eteco (state of being small) · ca petitesa (state of being small) · ro micime (state of being small) · es pequeñez (state of being small) · pt pequenez (state of being small) · ru ма́лость (state of being small) · it piccolezza (state of being small) · pt pequeneza (state of being small) · hi अल्पता (state of being small) · ga laghad (state of being small) · de Kleinheit (state of being small) · izh peenys (state of being small) · ota قلت (state of being small)