[ad. L. stoliditāt-em, f. stolid-us STOLID a. Cf. F. † stolidité (15–17th c. in Godef.), It. stolidità.] The attribute of being stolid; dull impassiveness; incapacity for feeling.
1563–83. Foxe, A. & M., 1598/1. In which wordes note (good reader) not only the absurditie of doctrine, but also the stolidity of the reason.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 629. Aristophanes reprouing the stolidity of the Athenians, calleth them sheepe.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Notts. (1662), 316. Men in all Ages have made themselves merry with singling out some place, and fixing the staple of stupidity and stolidity therein.
1691. Hartcliffe, Virtues, 277. A principal defect of the Mind, which may be called Stolidity, or the Extremity of Dulness.
1826. Disraeli, V. Grey, V. iii. The look of complacent and pompous stolidity.
1849. Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, xix. Leigh’s countenance relapsed into its customary stolidity.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 221. We received the announcement with the stolidity of true Britons.
1910. Q. Rev., April, 567. His [Sainte-Beuve’s] aim is to cultivate ‘a good healthy stolidity.’
