Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FINE-NESS, n. [Fr. finesse; It. finezza.]

1. Thinness; smallness; slenderness; as, the fineness of a thread or silk. Hence,
2. Consisting of fine threads; as, fine linen.
3. Smallness; minuteness; as, the fineness of sand or particles; the fineness of soil or mold.
4. Clearness; purity; freedom from foreign matter; as, the fineness of wine or other liquor; the fineness of gold.
5. Niceness; delicacy; as, the fineness of taste.
6. Keenness; sharpness; thinness; as, the fineness of an edge.
7. Elegance; beauty; as, fineness of person.
8. Capacity for delicate or refined conceptions; as, the fineness of genius.
9. Show; splendor; gayety of appearance; elegance; as, the fineness of clothes or dress.
10. Clearness; as, the fineness of complexion.
11. Subtilty; artfulness; ingenuity; as, the fineness of wit.
12. Smoothness. – Drayton.