PLACIDITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does placidity mean? 

• PLACIDITY (noun)
  The noun PLACIDITY has 2 senses:

1. a feeling of calmness; a quiet and undisturbed feeling

2. a disposition free from stress or emotion

  Familiarity information: PLACIDITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLACIDITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A feeling of calmness; a quiet and undisturbed feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

placidity; placidness

Hypernyms ("placidity" is a kind of...):

calmness (a feeling of calm; an absence of agitation or excitement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A disposition free from stress or emotion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

placidity; quiet; repose; serenity; tranquility; tranquillity

Hypernyms ("placidity" is a kind of...):

calm; calmness; composure; equanimity (steadiness of mind under stress)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "placidity"):

ataraxia (peace of mind)

Derivation:

placid (not easily irritated)

 Context examples 

That is a degree of placidity, which I can neither comprehend nor respect.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

And so, under pretence of softening the previous outrage, of stroking and soothing me into placidity, you stick a sly penknife under my ear!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He is beginning to put some flesh on his bones again, but he was terribly weakened by the long illness; even now he sometimes starts out of his sleep in a sudden way and awakes all trembling until I can coax him back to his usual placidity.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)