LITTLENESS

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does littleness mean? 

• LITTLENESS (noun)
  The noun LITTLENESS has 3 senses:

1. the property of having a relatively small size

2. the property of having relatively little strength or vigor

3. lack of generosity in trifling matters

  Familiarity information: LITTLENESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LITTLENESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The property of having a relatively small size

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

littleness; smallness

Hypernyms ("littleness" is a kind of...):

size (the physical magnitude of something (how big it is))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "littleness"):

diminutiveness; minuteness; petiteness; tininess; weeness (the property of being very small in size)

delicacy; slightness (smallness of stature)

grain (the smallest possible unit of anything)

puniness; runtiness; stuntedness; dwarfishness (smallness of stature)

Antonym:

bigness (the property of having a relatively great size)

Derivation:

little (limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The property of having relatively little strength or vigor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

littleness; smallness

Context example:

the smallness of her voice

Hypernyms ("littleness" is a kind of...):

weakness (the property of lacking physical or mental strength; liability to failure under pressure or stress or strain)

Derivation:

little ((of a voice) faint)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lack of generosity in trifling matters

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

littleness; pettiness; smallness

Hypernyms ("littleness" is a kind of...):

closeness; meanness; minginess; niggardliness; niggardness; parsimoniousness; parsimony; tightfistedness; tightness (extreme stinginess)

Derivation:

little ((informal) small and of little importance)

 Context examples 

He was beaten down to movelessness by an overwhelming sense of his own weakness and littleness.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Such a woman as Jane Fairfax probably never fell in Mrs. Elton's way before—and no degree of vanity can prevent her acknowledging her own comparative littleness in action, if not in consciousness.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

They elevated me from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillised it.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Fanny found herself obliged to yield, that she might not be accused of pride or indifference, or some other littleness; and having with modest reluctance given her consent, proceeded to make the selection.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

As I was on the road, observing the littleness of the houses, the trees, the cattle, and the people, I began to think myself in Lilliput.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

There is a littleness about him which you discovered, and which I did not: and I was fully convinced of his being in love with Harriet.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I should have lived happy enough in that country, if my littleness had not exposed me to several ridiculous and troublesome accidents; some of which I shall venture to relate.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

His mind, now disengaged from the cares which had pressed on him at first, was at leisure to find the Grants and their young inmates really worth visiting; and though infinitely above scheming or contriving for any the most advantageous matrimonial establishment that could be among the apparent possibilities of any one most dear to him, and disdaining even as a littleness the being quick-sighted on such points, he could not avoid perceiving, in a grand and careless way, that Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing his niece—nor perhaps refrain (though unconsciously) from giving a more willing assent to invitations on that account.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

None of that upright integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of his life.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

They would often strip me naked from top to toe, and lay me at full length in their bosoms; wherewith I was much disgusted because, to say the truth, a very offensive smell came from their skins; which I do not mention, or intend, to the disadvantage of those excellent ladies, for whom I have all manner of respect; but I conceive that my sense was more acute in proportion to my littleness, and that those illustrious persons were no more disagreeable to their lovers, or to each other, than people of the same quality are with us in England.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)