Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or quality of being great.
  • noun Great degree, amount, estimation, importance, or the like: as, greatness of genius or devotion; the greatness of a service or an enterprise.
  • noun Elevation of rank or station; power; dignity; distinction; eminence.
  • noun Self-esteem; arrogance.
  • noun Moral elevation; magnanimity; nobleness: as, greatness of mind.
  • noun Force; intensity: as, the greatness of sound, of heat, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The state, condition, or quality of being great
  • noun obsolete Pride; haughtiness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state, condition, or quality of being great; as, greatness of size, greatness of mind, power, etc.
  • noun obsolete : Pride; haughtiness.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun unusual largeness in size or extent or number
  • noun the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English greátnes.

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Examples

  • If this greatness is to be achieved, it can only be done by a united nation made up of people who know and respect each other.

    Canada's Impact on World Affairs 1955

  • On the other hand, what we call greatness of mind is the object of another most of approbation, than superior understanding.

    Human Nature and Other Sermons Joseph Butler 1722

  • Eleven score and thirteen years ago, a document was signed - it demanded greatness from a people and a place.

    8 posts from July 2009 2009

  • It stems from a misguided perception that greatness is bestowed at birth and pours out onto the page like water, perfectly formed and written.

    Excuses, Excuses « Write Anything 2010

  • His greatness is also in the fact that he knew how to present Christianity to a wide public, made up of Christians and secular people.

    Insight Scoop | The Ignatius Press Blog: 2009

  • Seattle Girls 'School and High Tech High are proof that learning greatness is possible, and can be successful.

    edu-urgency? 2009

  • If anything, the greatness is more obvious because it's not all dressed up in some slick package.

    Have a great weekend (Jack Bog's Blog) 2009

  • It would tell us that the celebration of national greatness is the celebration of our technological capacity to kill.

    The Disparity Between our Perceptions and our Actions : Law is Cool 2009

  • Eleven score and thirteen years ago, a document was signed - it demanded greatness from a people and a place.

    Creativity 2010

  • This country whose capacity for greatness is limitless cannot possibly also be the one that contains the most evil and socially-divergent people, can it?

    11 posts from May 2009 2009

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