adj. Nesh, soft, delicate, tender, effeminate :-- Hnysce hwítel linna, Ælfc. Gl. 63; Som. 68, 113; Wrt. Voc. 40, 23. Hnesce on móde tó flǽsclícum lustum yielding easily to the lusts of the flesh, Homl. Th. ii. 220, 4. Gefrédan hwæt biþ heard hwæt hnesce to feel what is hard, what soft, 372, 32: Elen. Kmbl. 1226; El. 615. Heó is hnesce on æthrine it is soft to the touch, Herb. 15, 1; Lchdm. i. 108, 1. Síe ðǽr eác lufu næs ðeáh tó hnesce sit itaque amor, sed non emolliens, Past. 17, 11; Swt. 127, 2. Hwæt getácnaþ ðonne ðæt flǽsc búton unfæsð weorc and hnesce quid enim per carnes nisi infirma quædam ac tenera, 34, 6; Swt. 235, 15. Ðonne hys twig byþ hnesce cum ramus ejus tener fuerit, Mt. Kmbl. 24, 32. Ǽghwæt hnesces oððe heardes, L. de Cf. 9; Th. ii. 264, 6: Salm. Kmbl. 574; Sal. 286. Ðonne geþafaþ him mon on ðære hnescean ólecunge eique mollities favoris adhibetur, Past. 19, 1; Swt. 143, 21. Swá hé ðone hnescan þafettere on réceléste ne gebrenge ut remissis ac lenibus non crescat negligentia, 60; Swt. 453, 25. Ne gedafenaþ ús ðæt wé symle hnesce beón on úrum geleáfan it befits us not to be ever delicate in our belief, Homl. Th. i. 602, 12. Mann hnescum gyrlum gescrýdne hominem mollibus vestitum, Mt. Kmbl. ii. 8; Lk. Skt. 7, 25. Heó biþ hnesceum leáfum it is a plant with soft leaves, Herb. 6, 1; Lchdm. i. 96, 14. Ic hæbbe hnesce litlingas parvulos habeam teneros, Gen. 33, 13. Syle him etan hnesce ægere give him lightly boiled (?) eggs to eat, Lchdm. iii. 134, 22. Ǽlc wuht biþ innanweard hnescost every creature is softest inside, Bt. 34, 10; Fox 150, 6. Drihten nǽfre ne forsyhþ ða eáþmódan heortan ne ða hnescestan the Lord never despises the humble heart nor the weakest, Blickl. Homl. 99, 5. [A. R. nesche: Orm. nesshe: Chauc. nesh: Goth. hnaskwus soft.] hnesce