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fine adj. (the ordinary material senses occur; 5 or 6 is often blended with the sense of ‘excellent, admirable’)
1. (of gold) containing a certain proportion of pure metal, specified in carats 2H4 IV. v. 160 “Other” [gold], “less fine in carat.”
2. (of wine) clear 2H4 V. iii. 46.
3. consummate, egregious Wiv. V. i. 19 “the f-st mad devil of jealousy,” Oth. IV. i. 153 “a fine fool.”
4. highly accomplished or skilful Shr. I. ii. 177 “A musician,” Cæs. I. i. 10 “a workman,” Ant. II. vi. 63 “your fine Egyptian cookery.”
5. exquisitely fashioned, delicately beautiful Tp. I. ii. 317 “ apparition,” LLL. I. i. 63 “some mistress ,” Rom. II. i. 19 “her foot,” Ham. II. ii. 476 [467] “more handsome than fine.”
6. refined, delicate, subtle (in various applications) Ado III. iv. 22, LLL. I. ii. 59, AYL. III. ii. 363 “Your accent is something f-r,” All'sW. V. iii. 273 “thou art too in thy evidence,” 1H4 IV. i. 2 “if speaking truth In this age were not thought flattery.”
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hide References (7 total)
  • Cross-references in text-specific dictionaries from this page (7):
    • William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra, 2.6
    • William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, 2.2
    • William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 3.2
    • William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry IV, 4.1
    • William Shakespeare, Henry V, 4.7
    • William Shakespeare, Richard II, 2.1
    • William Shakespeare, The Tempest, 1.2
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