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pettiness

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.08 sec.
pet·ty  (pt)
adj. pet·ti·er, pet·ti·est
1. Of small importance; trivial: a petty grievance.
2. Marked by narrowness of mind, ideas, or views.
3. Marked by meanness or lack of generosity, especially in trifling matters.
4. Secondary in importance or rank; subordinate. See Synonyms at trivial.
5. Law Variant of petit.

[Middle English peti, from Old French, variant of petit; see petit.]

petti·ly adv.
petti·ness n.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.pettiness - narrowness of mind or ideas or views
narrow-mindedness, narrowness - an inclination to criticize opposing opinions or shocking behavior
2.pettinesspettiness - the quality of being unimportant and petty or frivolous
unimportance - the quality of not being important or worthy of note
joke - a triviality not to be taken seriously; "I regarded his campaign for mayor as a joke"
3.pettiness - lack of generosity in trifling matters
Translations
Spanish pettiness [ˈpɛtɪnɪs] nmezquindad f
French pettiness [ˈpɛtɪnɪs] nmesquinerie f
German pettiness [ˈpɛtɪnɪs] nKleinlichkeit f
Italian pettiness [ˈpɛtɪnɪs] nmeschinità

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
For, thought Ahab, while even the highest earthly felicities ever have a certain unsignifying pettiness lurking in them, but, at bottom, all heart-woes, a mystic significance, and, in some men, an archangelic grandeur; so do their diligent tracings-out not belie the obvious deduction.
But even then, at moments of weakness as he had accounted them, his mind had penetrated to those distances and he had there seen the same pettiness, worldliness, and senselessness.
In that world of magnificence and pettiness envy is more apt to be a dagger than a spur.
 
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