quyknesse

Middle English

Alternative forms

• quiknes, quykenes, quyknys, qwiknes, whykenesse
• cwicnesse (Early Middle English)

Etymology

From quik +‎ -nesse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwiknɛs(ə)/, /ˈkwiːknɛs(ə)/

Noun

quyknesse

1. Life; the state of being alive.
2. Vigor, vitality, liveliness.
   • c. 1368, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, as recorded c. 1440–1450 in Bodleian Library MS. Fairfax 16, folio 130r:

     Defaulte of slepe and hevynesse / Hath [slayne] my spirite of quyknesse / That I haue loste al lustyhede

     Lack of sleep and sorrow / Have killed the liveliness in my spirit / So that I have lost all enjoyment of life.

3. The state of being lifelike or clear.
4. (rare, Late Middle English) Quickness, rapidity.

Descendants

• English: quickness

References

• “quiknes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.