| Library / English Dictionary |
MILDNESS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant
Synonyms:
lenience; leniency; lenity; mildness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("mildness" is a kind of...):
mercifulness; mercy (a disposition to be kind and forgiving)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered
Example:
even in the pulpit there are moments when mildness of manner is not enough
Synonyms:
gentleness; mildness; softness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("mildness" is a kind of...):
manner; personal manner (a way of acting or behaving)
Derivation:
mild (moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Good weather with comfortable temperatures
Synonyms:
clemency; mildness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("mildness" is a kind of...):
good weather (weather suitable for outdoor activities)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mildness"):
balminess; softness (the quality of weather that is deliciously mild and soothing)
Derivation:
mild (mild and pleasant)
Context examples:
She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest; but Jane, with all possible mildness, declined interfering; and Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness, and sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to her attacks.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
His attentive deference to her father, contrasted with his former language, was odious; and when she thought of his cruel conduct towards Mrs Smith, she could hardly bear the sight of his present smiles and mildness, or the sound of his artificial good sentiments.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
In another day or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last longer—nay, perhaps it may freeze tonight!
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
She wept when she quitted our house; she was much altered since the death of my aunt; grief had given softness and a winning mildness to her manners, which had before been remarkable for vivacity.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
