[f. QUICK a. + -NESS.]
1. Life, vitality, vital principle. Now rare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 150. Þe rinde … is þe treouwes warde, & wit [= keeps] hit ine strencðe & ine cwicnesse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 421/1. Quyknesse, of lyve, vita.
1538. Starkey, Dialogue, 87. In a goute the handys and fete … be as dede, wythout lyfe and quyknes to procure thyngys necessary for the body.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 139. The lyfe and quycknesse of the grayne is vtterly destroyed.
1613. M. Ridley, Magn. Bodies, 63. As though they had a new life of quicknesse infused into them.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., II. Quickness, v. Life is … A quickness, which my God hath kist.
1883. Pop. Sci. Monthly, XXII. 168. All the energies seen in nature are … but manifestations of the essential life or quickness of matter.
† 2. Animation, liveliness, briskness, vigor, freshness, etc. Obs.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 26. Defaulte of slepe, and hevynesse Hath sleyne my spirite of quyknesse.
c. 1430. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 28. To grant it [a statue] lyfe and wiknesse of langage.
1529. More, Dyaloge, II. Wks. 1557, 1183/1. Make hymn do al hys good woorkes wearyly, and withoute consolacion or quyckenes.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. xxvii. (Arb.), 69. That disticke of Virgil … I will recite for the breifnes and quicknes of it.
1656. Artif. Handsom., 162. Adding a quicknesse of complexion to the face.
3. Liveliness, readiness, rapidity or acuteness of feeling, perception or apprehension.
a. Physical; esp. of the eyes or sight.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxix. (1495), 140. For quyknes and lyfnes of the synewes … in the ouermest partyes of the fyngres.
1623. Cockeram, II. Quicknesse of sight, perspicacitie.
1695. Ld. Preston, Boeth., I. 3. A Woman … with sparkling Eyes, which were of an extraordinary Force and Quickness.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 127. The astonishing quickness of sight of one of the hawks.
b. Mental; of the mind, etc.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 216 b. He hath this viuacite or quycknes of wytte.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 118. Our elderis, throuch quiknes of thair ingine perceiued perfytlie … the dissolute maneris of thair people.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 382. Whom he much resembled in quickness of parts.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 97. With too much Quickness ever to be taught.
1798. Edgeworth, Pract. Educ. (1822), I. 115. Attentive patience can do as much as quickness of intellect.
1884. L. J. Jennings, Croker Papers, I. viii. 233. A man of great quickness of spirit and acuteness.
4. Speed, rapidity (of action, motion, etc.); sharpness (of a curve); hastiness (of temper).
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 60. Their quicknes and swiftnes did more preiudice to theyr enemyes.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxiii. As if they were darts thrown out with a kind of sudden quickness.
1698. G. Thomas, Pensilvania, 41. The Water-Mills far exceed those in England … for quickness.
1729. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., III. 366. His Horse was hurt through the quickness of the Journey.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 62. The quickness of vegetation … proceeds from the duration of the sun above the horizon.
1858. Skyring’s Builder’s Prices (ed. 48), 57. The quickness of the curve and depth of the quirks make them difficult of access to work.
1863. A. Blomfield, Mem. Bp. Blomfield, II. ix. 180. A quickness of temper which … marred the perfection of his character.
b. With a and pl.: A case or instance of this.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 218. The sum of all the several quicknesses or impetus.
1883. Besant, All in a Garden Fair (1886), 78. Little quicknesses of gesture.
† 5. Sharpness, keenness; pungency or acidity of taste; sharpness of speech. Obs.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., I. i. To see my sword, and feel The quickness of the edge.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 83. Her Majesty answering with some quickness.
1652–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1682), 29. Lemmons, Pomegranats, Citrons … much praised for their quickness of taste.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, I. i. 52. The Quickness of the Liquor, which may make him weep.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, I. xvii. (1811), 117. This quickness upon me … is not to be borne.
