meekness

American  

[meek-nis] / ˈmik nɪs /

noun

1. the quality of being patient or quiet in nature.

   The theme of her sermon was that quietness and meekness are the beginning of wisdom.

2. the quality of being overly submissive.

   Several speakers criticized the government for its meekness when confronted with threats.

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Other Word Forms

• overmeekness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of meekness

meek ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Use the noun meekness to talk about someone's habit of acting shy or submissive. Your own meekness might keep you from asking your boss for a raise. If you tend to give in easily, or to quietly endure hardship, you have the quality of meekness. Meekness can mean not speaking up for yourself or deferring to other people with louder voices and stronger opinions. The word meekness has meek at its root, "gentle, benevolent, or humble." Originally, the word meek was specifically associated with women and feminine qualities, and it comes from an Old Norse root, mjúkr, "soft or gentle."

Example Sentences

Meekness, he said, “enables us to set aside everything that divides and estranges us, and to find ever new ways to advance along the path of unity.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2016

Meekness pervaded Villa and they seemed unable to muster a threat as the match ticked towards its conclusion.

From The Guardian • Jan. 25, 2013

When Mrs. Harlowe writes, her broken half-utter'd Sentences are so many Pictures of the broken timorous Spirit of Meekness tyrannised over, that dictates to her Pen.

From Remarks on Clarissa (1749) by Fielding, Sarah

Meekness had taken the place of the merriment which once made the house to ring, and the eye which once sparkled now showed sadness and concern.

From Cynthia Wakeham's Money by Green, Anna Katharine

Some Glances of real Beauty may be seen in their Faces, who dwell in true Meekness.

From John Woolman's Journal by Woolman, John