Smallness Meaning
/smˈɔlnəs/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe state or quality of being small.
nounThe result or product of being small.
Sentence Examples
The smallness of the room made it feel very cozy and warm.
He was surprised by the smallness of the object in his hand.
The smallness of the room made it feel cozy and warm.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of the insect made it difficult to see even with a magnifying glass.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The apparent ____ of the stars in the night sky is due to the vast distance from Earth.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English smalnesse; equivalent to small + -ness.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The exiguity and ſmallneſſe of ſome ſeeds extending to large productions is one of the magnalities of nature, ſomewhat illuſtrating the work of the Creation, and vaſt production from nothing."
— 1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter III.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 136:
"My hand was lifted at her door to knock, when I recollected the smallness of the island. We could never hide ourselves upon it."
— 1904, Jack London, chapter 32, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:
"Mr. Howden forcibly expressed his view that the U.T.A. [Ulster Transport Authority] rail system "had reached the limit of its smallness"."
— 1963 January, “The Irish scene”, in Modern Railways, page 16:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of the insect made it difficult to see even with a magnifying glass.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The apparent ____ of the stars in the night sky is due to the vast distance from Earth.