n. 1. The condition or quality of being quick or living; life. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Touch it with thy celestial quickness. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Activity; briskness; especially, rapidity of motion; speed; celerity; as, quickness of wit. [ 1913 Webster ] This deed . . . must send thee hence With fiery quickness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] His mind had, indeed, great quickness and vigor. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Acuteness of perception; keen sensibility. [ 1913 Webster ] Would not quickness of sensation be an inconvenience to an animal that must lie still ? Locke [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Sharpness; pungency of taste. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Velocity; celerity; rapidity; speed; haste; expedition; promptness; dispatch; swiftness; nimbleness; fleetness; agility; briskness; liveliness; readiness; sagacity; shrewdness; shrewdness; sharpness; keenness. [ 1913 Webster ] |