A Topical Dictionary: Search for squeamishness

Dictionary Results For "squeamishness" [?]/[OPML]

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English

Noun

The quality of being squeamish

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Squeamish \Squeam"ish\ (skw[=e]m"[i^]sh), a. [OE. squaimous,
sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a
swimming in the head; cf. Icel. sveimr a bustle, a stir,
Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one,
Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. sw[imac]ma. The word has been
perhaps confused with qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.]
Having a stomach that is easily turned or nauseated; hence,
nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to
be offended at trifling improprieties.
[1913 Webster]

Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish
That takes a basting for a blemish. --Hudibras.
[1913 Webster]

His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain
The men of squeamish taste to entertain. --Southern.
[1913 Webster]

So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven. --M.
Arnold.
[1913 Webster]

Syn: Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See
Fastidious.
[1913 Webster] -- Squeam"ish*ly, adv. --
Squeam"ish*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]

WordNet squeamishness
n : a mild state of nausea [syn: queasiness, qualm]