Hardness

HARDNESS, 1 Kgs 20:11. In this passage and some others the word denotes armor. The phrase "made ready his chariot," Ex 14:6, literally means, in modern phraseology, "tackled," or "put to, his horses." That bridles with bits were very early known as part of the harness of a horse is obvious from Isa 37:29; Prov 26:3; Ps 32:9. The ancient harness was often very elaborate, as the monuments testify.

HARDNESS, 1 Kgs 20:11. In this passage and some others the word denotes armor. The phrase "made ready his chariot," Ex 14:6, literally means, in modern phraseology, "tackled," or "put to, his horses." That bridles with bits were very early known as part of the harness of a horse is obvious from Isa 37:29; Prov 26:3; Ps 32:9. The ancient harness was often very elaborate, as the monuments testify.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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.

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.

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.