01 n. The quality or state of being hard, literally or figuratively.
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1.
The quality or state of being hard, literally or figuratively.“The habit of authority also had given his manners some peremptory hardness.” — Sir W. Scott.
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2.
The cohesion of the particles on the surface of a body, determined by its capacity to scratch another, or be itself scratched; -- measured among minerals on a scale of which diamond and talc form the extremes.(Min.)
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3.
The peculiar quality exhibited by water which has mineral salts dissolved in it. Such water forms an insoluble compound with soap, and is hence unfit for washing purposes.(Chem.)