Also 4–7 with y for i, l for ll, -te, tee, -tye, -tie for -ty; 7–9 tranquility. [a. F. tranquillité (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. tranquillitāt-em, f. tranquill-us TRANQUIL: see -ITY.] The quality or state of being tranquil; freedom from disturbance or agitation; serenity, calmness; quietness, peacefulness. a. Of the mind or affairs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. pr. iv. 29. (Camb. MS.). By tranquillite [v.r. -tee] of thi sowle.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 29. Lyvenge in peace and tranquillite after that tyme.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. xi. 23. The iust laboure for peace and tranquylite.
1610. Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 17. That Court which is, forum spirituale, considers the publique tranquility.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. vi. 29. There is no such thing as perpetuall Tranquillity of mind, while we live here.
1820. Vermont Republican, 31 Jan., 3/2. In these ‘piping times of peace and plenty,’ the honest farmer and merchant are perhaps unapprehensive of any event that may interrupt their tranquility at home or abroad.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xi. 27. A preliminary step toward the restoration of tranquillity.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, i. The tiny birds … hopped about in perfect tranquillity.
b. Of the weather, the elements, etc.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. xxvii. Sey to … þe norþen wynde, ‘blowe not’; & þere shal be gret tranquillite.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan., Ep. Ded. A ij. Therfore is this tranquilite of the sea for that litle tyme, as a trwce taking in the winter, called the halcions dayes.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. viii. 82. We fully expected … to have experienced the celebrated tranquillity of the Pacifick Ocean.
1823. Wordsw., ‘A volant Tribe of Bards.’ The intense tranquillity Of silent hills, and more than silent sky.
a. 1854. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., x. (1855), 336. Bearing in … its own deep tranquillity, the reflection of the tranquillity of the heavens.
