skepticalness, sceptical ness (skeptikalnes)

Skeptical character or state; doubt; profe ion of doubt. Fuller, Serm. of A urance, p. 4. skepticism, scepticism (skep'ti-sizm), n. [F. sceptic is me = Sp. escepticismo = Pg. scepticismo = It. scetticismo = D. scepticism us = G. skepti cismus = Dan. skeptic is me (NL. scepticism us ); as skeptic + -ism. The entertaining of mistrust, doubt, or disbelief; especially, the reasoning of one who doubts the po ibility of knowledge of reality; the systematic doubt which characterizes a philosophical skeptic; specifically, doubt or disbelief of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion. He [Berkeley] profe es to have composed his book against the sceptics as well as against the atheists and free-thinkers. But that all his arguments, though other wise intended, are, in reality, merely sceptical, appears from this, that they admit of no answer, and produce no amazement and irresolution and confusion which is the conviction. Their only effect is to cause that momentary result of scepticism. Hume , Human Understanding, xii. 1, note. Scepticism had been born into the world, almost more hateful than heresy, because it had the manners of good society and contented itself with a smile, a shrug, an almost imperceptible lift of the eyebrow. Lowell , Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 132. Absolute or Pyrrhonic skepticism, the absence of any leaning toward either side of any question; complete skepticism about everything. See Pyrrhonism . skepticize, scepticize (skepʼti-sīz), v. i.; pret. and pp. skeptic i zed, sceptic i zed, ppr. skeptic i zing, sceptic i zing. [ delineated memorandum; a slight delineation or indication of an artist's thought, invention, or recollection. This plan is not perhaps in all respects so accurate as might be wished, it being composed from the memorandums and rude sketches of the master and surgeon, who were not, I presume, the ablest draughtsmen. Anson, Voyages, ii. 3. 3. A short and slightly constructed play or literary composition: as, " sketches by Boz." We always did a laughable sketch entitled "Billy Button's Ride to Brent ford," and I used to be Jeremiah Stitchem, a servant of Billy Button's, that comes for a "sit i at i on. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III. 132. 4. In music: (a) A short composition consisting of a single movement: so called either from the simplicity of its construction, or because it is of a descriptive character, being suggested by some external object, or being intended to suggest such an object, as a fountain or a brook. (b) Generally in the plural, preliminary memoranda made by a composer with the intention of developing them afterward into a finished composition. Such sketches consist some times of only a few notes, sometimes of the most important parts of a whole movement. For instance, great numbers of sketches by Beethoven are still extant, many of them showing the progre ive stages of works afterward fully completed. 5. In com., a description, sent at regular intervals to the consignor, of the kinds of goods sold by a commi ion house and the terms of sale. Syn. 1. Skeleton, plot, plan.- 1 and 2. Delinea tion, etc. See outline. sketch (skech), v. [= D. schetsen = G. skiz zieren = Dan. skizzere; from the noun.] I. trans. 1. To present the e ential facts of, with omi ion of details; outline briefly or slightly; describe or depict in a general, incomplete, and suggestive way. I must leave him [the reader] to contemplate those ideas which I have only sketched , and which every man must finish for himself. Dryden , Parallel of Poetry and Painting. II. n. 1. One who suspends his judgment, and holds that the known facts do not warrant a conclusion concerning a given fundamental question; a thinker distinguished for the length to which he carries his doubts; also, one who holds that the real truth of things cannot be You can afford to scepticize where no one else will so much as hesitate. Shaftesbury . skeret, a. and adv . A Middle English form of sheer1 . skerling (sker'ling), n . A smolt, or young salmon of the first year. [Local, Eng.] 2. Specifically, in to draw portray in or slight draft of, especially as a memorandum for more finished work: as, to sketch a group or a landscape. The method of Rubens was to sketch his composition in colours, with all the parts more determined than sketches generally are; from this sketch his scholars advanced the IMG:content-1192.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Specifically, in art, to draw in outline or with partial shading: as, she sketches cleverly. sketchability (skech-a-bil'i-ti), n. [ In the wonderful crooked, twisting, climbing, soaring, burrowing Genoese alleys the traveller is really up to his neck in the old Italian sketchability . H. James, Jr., Portraits of Places, p. 48. sketchable (skech'a-bl), a. [ sketch + -able .] Capable of being sketched or delineated; suitable for being sketched; effective as the subject of a sketch. Madame Gervaisais is a picture of the visible, sketchable Rome of twenty-five years ago. Fortnightly Rev., N. S., XLIII. 507. In the town itself, though there is plenty sketchable, there is nothing notable save the old town cro . Harper's Mag., LXXVII. 492. I noted, here and there, as I went, an extremely sketch able effect. H. James, Jr., Portraits of Places, p. 362. sketch-block (skech'blok), n. A block or pad of drawing-paper prepared to receive sketches. Also called sketching - block .