[ad. late L. spīnōsitās (cf. It. spinosità): see SPINOSE a. and -ITY.]

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  1.  The quality of being spinose or thorny. Chiefly fig.

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1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. 47. The part of Humane Philosophie … seemeth but a Net of subtiltie and spinositie.

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1660.  H. More, Myst. Godl., VI. xviii. 275. The acuteness and spinosity of harsh and dry Opinions.

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  2.  A rude or disagreeable remark; an argument or theory of a difficult and unprofitable character.

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1653.  H. More, Conject. Cabbal., Wks. (1713), 105. Many spinosities and cutting passages that often happen unawares in … conversation.

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1691.  Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 283. He … was not unseen in their subtilties and spinosities.

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1701.  Norris, Ideal World, I. vi. 330. Without running through all the scholastic spinosities upon this occasion.

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1836.  Hor. Smith, Tin Trump. (1876), 311. Amid the dry spinosities and tortuous labyrinths of theology.

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