[f. LITHE a. + -NESS.]
† a. Gentleness, meekness, mildness. b. Flexibility, suppleness.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 95. Erest he walde us mid liðnesse isteoren.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, x. (Mathou), 445. Þe clergy … with lythnes [had] byde goddis wrake.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 52. Summe men seide that he [Aristotle] was the son of swech a spirit whech thei clepe Incubus, for the lithnes of his body, an the sotilte of his witte.
1530. Palsgr., 239/2. Lythenesse, delyvernesse, souplesse.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 458. Thou canst remove that utter unwillingnesse … and cause lythnesse, and complying therewith.
1731. Bailey, vol. II. Litheness, suppleness, limberness.
1861. Wilson & Geikie, Mem. E. Forbes, xii. 402. The litheness of his body at this time was altogether surprising.
1877. Blackie, Wise Men, 20. To sinewy grasp and litheness bred.
