greatness
noun/ˈɡɹeɪtnəs/
Etymology From Middle English gretnesse, gretnes, greetnesse, from Old English grēatnes. Equivalent to great + -ness.
1
The state, condition, or quality of being great
- Due to the greatness of his size, he was an effective bodyguard.
- greatness of mind
3 more examples
- Mal. Some are borne great... Some atcheeue greatnesse... And some haue greatnesse thrust vpon them.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
- Until then I had felt that what a great writer I was had been carefully kept secret between myself and my wife and only those people we knew well enough to speak to. I was glad Scott had come to the same happy conclusion as to this possible greatness, but I was also glad he was beginning to run out of his speech.1964, Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 147:
- He showed his greatness when it mattered, but his occasional weakness too.2012 June 29, Kevin Mitchell, “Roger Federer Back from Wimbledon 2012 Brink to Beat Julien Benneteau”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Nov 2016:
2
Obsolete Pride; haughtiness.
- It is not of pride or greatness that he cometh not aboard your ships.1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- overgreatness
- Related terms
- magnum opus, genius