Now rare. Also 6 -entie, 6–7 -encie. [ad. L. vehementia, f. vehement- VEHEMENT a.: see -ENCY. and Cf. prec., Sp. and Pg. vehemencia, It. veemenza.]
1. = VEHEMENCE 3 and 3 b.
1538. Tonstall, Serm. Palm Sund. (1823), 51. The greatness and vehemency … of his fayth.
1579. Fulke, Refut. Rastel, 735. He … excuseth them, by vehemency of desire.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 247. Would it apply well to the vehemency of your affection that I should win what you would enioy?
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus iii. 8. He could not satisfie himselfe in his vehemencie against such doctrine as this was.
1665. Glanvill, Def. Van. Dogm., 74. That which excites men to endless brawlings, and altercations; Schisms, Heresies, and Rebellions, by the vehemencies, of Dispute.
1671. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. ii. 92. The vehemency of the Spirit, if Nature be feeble, draws it inward, and masters it.
1753–4. Richardson, Grandison, xxii. (1781), III. 211. Well do I know the vehemency with which you are wont to pursue a new adventure.
b. esp. Of utterance or expression.
1542–5. Brinklow, Lament. (1874), 91. God shall rayse other that shall speake … with no lesse loue & vehemency.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 97. Polidore … wryteth very vehemently against him in his History, which vehemency or fonde malice I thought meete … to suppresse.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 148. The best perswasions to the contrary Faile not to vse, and with what vehemencie Th’occasion shall instruct you.
1679. Prance, Narr. Popish Plot, 28. Which he pronounced with a great deal of vehemency and earnestness.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 148. [He] exclaimed with some vehemency, Never, never did I behold such beauty.
1830. J. Milne, Widow & Her Son, iv. (1851), 232. You’ll learn henceforth to chide with far less vehemency.
1845. Ld. Campbell, Chancellors, xlvii. (1857), II. 314. All these speeches were spoken with great vehemency.
2. Intensity or severity: a. Of pain, illness, etc.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., II. i. 13. That the payne, and the accidens encrease not, nor diminische, but contynue in great vehementie.
1558. Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., xxx. 193. Doo not differre this tyl the vehemencie of your sickenes decaye your speache and memorie.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 359. According to the strength of the sick, and vehemency of the disease.
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, II. vii. 173. No man ever endured such rage, and vehemencie of pain.
1656. J. Smith, Pract. of Physick, 146. A Pestilent Feaver differs from the Plague by the vehemency of the mischief and contagion.
b. Of cold, heat or other influences.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 109. Humour refresheth heate, and slaketh the vehemencie thereof.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 259. The Podagra or Gout, quhilk of the Vehemencie of calde he contracted.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. vii. 96. The vehemencie of the fire forceth and driveth vp an aboundance of vapours.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., 309. Which if it were Hippocrates his opinion notwithstanding the vehemency of his remedies [etc.].
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Flower, On these they hang a Piece of Cloth, which … defends ’em from the Vehemency of its [sc. the sun’s] Rays.
1815. Scott, Guy M., iv. Those farther rules by which diviners pretend to ascertain the vehemency of this evil direction.
3. = VEHEMENCE 2.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 120. The vehemencie of the wynde is not of poure to caste downe those houses.
1569. Stocker, trans. Diod. Sic., III. ix. 118. Many Barques … with the vehemencie of the wether were runne on lande.
1609. Bible (Douay), Deut. xxviii. 49. In likenes of an eagle that flieth with vehemencie.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. vi. 105. It is continually forced along with Celerity and Vehemency.
b. Used of sounds.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 84. The earth trembeled throwgh the vehemencie of theyr owtcry.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 439. Least the vehemency of chirking frogs vexe the wish’d-for Repose of his … body.
4. = VEHEMENCE 1. rare–1.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Vehemencia odoris, the vehemencie of, &c.
