Also 6 valydyty(e, 6–7 validitie, 7 vallydety, Sc. validete. [ad. late L. validitas, f. valid-us VALID a. Cf. F. validité (16th c.), It. validità.]
1. The quality of being valid in law; legal authority, force or strength.
c. 1550. Life Fisher, in F’s Wks. (E.E.T.S.), II. p. l. Two or three daies after, he began to discusse with him the validitie of his maryage.
1561. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 171. The questioun standis nocht upoun the validitie and invaliditie of the saising.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 310. Concerning the validitie of these lawes.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xv. 72. The Validity of Covenants begins not but with the Constitution of a Civill Power.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3715/4. A Definitive Sentence hath been … given by the Judges Delegates, for the Validity of the Last Will of John Higgs.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 315. To consider and determine the validity of appeals or indictments.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 212. The validity of such a lease was established in the following modern case.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvii. IV. 77. Much as they hated him, they could not question the validity of his commission.
1884. Law Times Rep., L. 2/2. The plaintiff denied the validity of the transfer.
2. The quality of being well-founded on fact, or established on sound principles, and thoroughly applicable to the case or circumstances; soundness and strength (of argument, proof, authority, etc.).
a. In the phrase of … validity.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 488 b. Of no greater valydyty is that Argument lykewyse which they rake out of Augustines wordes.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1810), 21. This ys a mere coniecture, and of no valydytye.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, ii. 34. Neither are their reasons of such validity.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 145. It remain’s in the next place, that wee consider of what validitie the contrarie Opinions of Writers are.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. r. World, 7. Expressions full of contempt of the Commission, making it appear as a thing of hardly any validity or consequence.
1768. Phil. Trans., LVIII. 222. No arguments brought in favour of absorption by the common veins appear to me of equal validity with those that can be urged against it.
1803. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1835), II. 138, note. The assurance contained in his letter … was of equal validity as if given by the most Noble the Governor General.
b. In general use.
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Log., I. i. 5. Artificial Logike then is the polyshing of natural wit, as discovering the validitie of everie reason.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon. (1634), 60. In this point the Philosopher … seemeth to question the validity of his own arguments.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. 80. Something must be premised about the validity of this writing, learned men much differing therein.
1689. G. Harvey, Curing Dis. by Expect., i. 1. If Antiquity be capable of conferring Validity, the Art of Expectation … may be termed equally valuable.
1716. Pope, Lett. (1736), VI. 3. You are doubtless persuaded of the validity of that famous verse ‘’Tis Expectation makes a Blessing dear.’
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 188. To examine the validity of the notion entertained by workmen, respecting Tarras Mortar.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1835), III. 552. I do not exactly understand the validity of this objection.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. vii. 418. Statesmen … who denied the validity of general principles in politics.
a. 1881. Barratt, Phys. Metempiric (1883), 185. That does not alter the validity of the conclusion to be ultimately arrived at.
† 3. The quality or state of being physically strong or sound; robustness, strength. Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 26. The shoulder blades … putting forth a strong ridge … not a little to the augmenting of their validitie.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 148. Some men maintain great disputation, whether fortresses builte of stone, chalke or earth be of greatest validitie.
1620. Markham, Farew. Husb., II. xvii. (1668), 81. The grain wanting his true nourishment, grows withered and of no validity.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., IV. xxv. 300. If in debility of strength the bloud be lighter, and in validity of strength it be heavier.
transf. 1602. Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 199. Purpose is but the slaue to Memorie, of violent Birth, but poore validitie.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 29, ¶ 13. Some pious persons who … question the validity of their own faith, because they shrink at the thoughts of flames and tortures.
b. Physical value or capacity. rare.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 669. That a Bore or male swine wil not remaine of validity and good for breed past three year old.
1868. E. Edwards, Sir W. Ralegh, I. xxv. 612. No hope remained of his validity in active service.
4. Value or worth; efficacy.
Merging into sense 2, from which in some instances it is hardly distinguishable.
1593. Harvey, New Lett., Wks. (Grosart), I. 290. Some surmounting spirites loue to arreare a huge opinion of their excessiue validity, pro, or contra.
1595. in Maitland Club Misc., I. 76. To give in in writt … the estait and validitie of the vicarage of Ruglen.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 303. The scrapings that come of sweating in banes and hot-houses, be counted of greater validitie in all these infirmities.
1631. Lenton, Charact., B 10 b. Shee hath lately … giuen her selfe out a brace of hundreds more then ere his estate was worth, besides his debts and legacies, wheras her validity proportionable can scarce absolue those.
1788. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 189. He had too high an opinion of the validity of regular troops.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 195. The most certain index of the validity of a limestone for Aquatic Buildings.
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 101. The character and history of the most celebrated quacks, the ground of their popular fame, and the validity of their various pretences.
† 5. pl. Valid powers or capacities. Obs.
1586. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 41. Whose spirits caried with greater efficacie of aspiring eternitie then those whose duller conceits are adapted to more terrene and grosse validities.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 13. Nature as much as is possible inclineth vnto validities and preseruations.
1607. J. Norden, Surv. Dial., II. 67. You may indeede call these things secrets, because their validities are not suddainly apprehended or found.
