mickleness

mickleness

English

Etymology

From Middle English mikelnes, a unpalatalised variant (due to influence from Old Norse mikill) of Middle English michelnesse, from Old English miċelnes (“greatness, size, mass, quantity, multitude, abundance, magnificence, great deed”), equivalent to mickle +‎ -ness. Cognate with Old High German michilnessi (“greatness, magnitude”). See also muchness.

Noun

mickleness (uncountable)

1. Greatness; bigness (in any sense); largeness; size.
   • 1905, Stopford Augustus Brooke, The history of early English literature:

     "There is in Britain a fen of unmeasured mickleness that begins from the river Granta, not far from the city which is called Grantaceaster.

   • 1995, Walter Hilton, The Goad of Love:

     [...] and for to show also the wonderful mickleness of hatred that thou hadst to my sin which I had made.

Anagrams

• Mickelsens