arch. [f. AMPLE a. + -NESS.]
1. Of extension in space: Largeness, breadth, extent.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 150/1. To defend and conserue fullie and wholie in all amplenesse … all the lands.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 36. The Protestants in strength and amplenesse of Territorie much exceed the Papists.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 16. The Sea … for the ampleness and extreme distance thereof from the Land was not possible to bee governed.
Mod. A skirt of greater ampleness.
2. Of things immaterial: Extent, greatness, magnitude, grandeur.
1570. Dee, Math. Præf., 13. A Science of such dignitie and amplenes.
1692. South, Serm. to Mayor & Ald., Pref. (1697), I. 43. The Ampleness of the Body you represent.
1762. B. Stillingfleet, trans. Linnæus’ Oration, in Misc. Tracts, 4. Whether i consider the ampleness of the place, or the dignity of the audience.
3. Sufficiency for its purpose, completeness, fullness.
1566. T. Stapleton, Rel. Untr. Jewel, iv. 87. The greatnesse and amplenesse of the worke.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 72. The largenesse and amplenesse of the word of God extending and stretching it selfe to all the spirituall occasions of all God’s people.
1668. Pepys, Diary, 6 April. The ampleness of his revenge.
Mod. The ampleness of the apology.
4. Copiousness, fullness, diffuseness.
1803. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., I. 429. The ampleness of his diction oftener results from throng of thought than plenty of words.
