Also 4 smoþe-, 5–6 smothnesse. [f. SMOOTH a.]
1. The quality of being smooth or of having a smooth, level or even surface; calmness (of water).
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. met. 4 (1868), 166. Lettres emprentid in þe smoþenesse or in þe plainesse of þe table of wex.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XVII. xx. (W. de W.), 615. Boxe … for smothnesse of matere … is able to receyue wrytynge of letters.
1548. Elyot, Lævitas, playnnesse or smothnesse.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., II. i. His lofty browes in foldes do figure death, And in their smoothnesse, amitie and life.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 405. Smoothness, roughness,… refer to figure, and are therefore common both to touch and sight.
a. 1688. Cudworth, Immut. Morality (1731), 61. Democritus … makes one of them to consist in Roughness and Ruggedness, the other in Smoothness and Evenness of Parts.
1774. M. Mackenzie, Maritime Surv., 86. If the Card of the Compass can be made to stand at Rest in the Boat, either by Art, or the Smoothness of the Sea.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, I. 31. The last degree of smoothness can only be obtained by grinding.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xv. 101. The water was of a glassy smoothness.
b. fig. or in fig. context.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1247 (1594), I 2 b. Their [sc. women’s] smoothnesse; like a goodly champaine plaine, Laies open all the little wormes that creepe.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xv. (1687), 124. The roughness of your way, and the asperities of mens manners, must not spoil the smoothness of your soul.
1845. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 3. A deficiency of moral energy, arising chiefly from the smoothness with which the current of social life runs down.
c. The fact of having a smooth or hairless skin.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 680. The Cause of the Smoothnesse in Men, is not any Abundance of Heat, and Moisture, though that indeed causeth Pilosity.
d. A smooth place or part.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 86. The pieces of a body … are only clapt together at their little smoothnesses.
2. Easy flow, elegance or polish (of language, diction, etc.).
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. vii. (Arb.), 93. The smoothnesse of your words and sillables running vpon feete of sundrie quantities.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 9. In the verie Torrent … and (as I may say) the Whirle-winde of Passion, you must acquire and beget a Temperance that may giue it Smoothnesse.
1666. Dryden, Pref. Ann. Mirab., 42. I affected the softness of expression and the smoothness of measure.
1781. Cowper, Table-talk, 513. That verse, whatever fire the fancy warms, Without a creamy smoothness has no charms.
1836. Random Recoll. Ho. Lords, xvi. 385. His sentiments and arguments flow from his lips with a smoothness and facility … seldom witnessed.
1885. Manch. Exam., 30 March, 5/4. The Cabinet, lulled to repose by the smoothness of Lord Clarendon’s flowing periods.
b. Polish, refinement, ease (of manners, bearing, etc.).
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., I. vi. Judge for yourself if I be fit for the smoothness, and confidence, and ease of social intercourse. Ibid. (1838), Alice, 60. She acquired self-possession and the smoothness of society.
3. The quality of being bland, ingratiating or plausible; assumed or simulated friendliness, civility or amiability.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. iii. 79. She is too subtile for thee, and her smoothnes…, and her patience, Speake to the people.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., IV. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew.
1845. G. P. R. James, Arrah Neil, iv. Dry, of Long-soaken, was all smoothness and civility.
1858. W. Arnot, Laws fr. Heaven, ii. 22. Smoothness is not an equivalent for truth.
4. Easiness, facility (of working).
1893. J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (1907), 133. Many such devices work with great smoothness and certainty.
