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squeamishnessmore about squeamishness

squeamishness

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Squeamish  \Squeam"ish\,  a.  [OE.  squaimous,  sweymous  probably 
  from  OE  sweem,  swem,  dizziness,  a  swimming  in  the  head;  cf 
  Icel.  svemr  a  bustle,  a  stir,  Norw.  sveim  a  hovering  about  a 
  sickness  that  comes  upon  one  Icel.  svimi  a  giddiness,  AS 
  sw[=i]mi.  The  word  has  been  perhaps  confused  witrh  qualmish. 
  Cf  {Swim}  to  be  dizzy.] 
  Having  a  stomach  that  is  easily  or  nauseated;  hence  nice  to 
  excess  in  taste;  fastidious;  easily  disgusted;  apt  to  be 
  offended  at  trifling  improprieties. 
 
  Quoth  he  that  honor's  very  squeamish  That  takes  a 
  basting  for  a  blemish.  --Hudibras. 
 
  His  muse  is  rustic,  and  perhaps  too  plain  The  men  of 
  squeamish  taste  to  entertain.  --Southern. 
 
  So  ye  grow  squeamish,  Gods,  and  sniff  at  heaven.  --M. 
  Arnold. 
 
  Syn:  Fastidious;  dainty;  overnice;  scrupulous.  See 
  {Fastidious}.  --  {Squeam"ish*ly},  adv  -- 
  {Squeam"ish*ness},  n. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  squeamishness 
  n  :  a  mild  state  of  nausea  [syn:  {queasiness},  {qualm}]




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