nimbleness

English

Etymology

From Middle English nymmylnes; equivalent to nimble +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪm.bəl.nɪs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

nimbleness (countable and uncountable, plural nimblenesses)

1. The quality of being nimble.
   • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Esay [Isaiah] xxx:[12–13], folio xi, recto, column 1:

     Therfoꝛe thus ſaieth the holy one of Iſrael: In as moch as ye haue caſt of youre bewtie, and confoꝛted youre ſelues with power and nymbleneſſe, and put youre confidence therin: therfoꝛe ſhal ye haue this myſchefe agayne foꝛ youre deſtruction and fall, like as an hie wall, that falleth becauſe of ſome rift (oꝛ blaſt,) whoſe bꝛeakinge cometh ſodenly.

   • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 126, column 1:

     'Tis better that the Enemie ſeeke vs,
     So ſhall he waſte his meanes, weary his Souldiers,
     Doing himſelfe offence, whil'ſt we lying ſtill,
     Are full of reſt, defence, and nimbleneſſe.

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “property of being nimble”): sluggishness

Translations

the quality of being nimble

• Armenian:

  Old Armenian: արագութիւն (aragutʻiwn)

• Bulgarian: лекота́ (bg) f (lekotá), пъргавина́ (bg) f (pǎrgaviná)
• Czech: hbitost f
• Georgian: სიმკვირცხლე (simḳvircxle)
• German: Wendigkeit f, Gewandtheit (de) f, Behändigkeit (de) f, Beweglichkeit (de) f
• Irish: luaineacht f, éascaíocht f
• Italian: leggerezza (it) f, agilità (it) f, scioltezza (it) f
• Latin: agilitās f, pernīcitās f, strēnuitās f
• Polish: zręczność (pl) f, zwinność (pl) f
• Spanish: agilidad (es) f