haughtiness
(ˈhɔːtɪnɪs)
Also 6–7 haut-, halt-, etc.
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
1. The quality of being haughty; loftiness of demeanour; pride, arrogance, disdainfulness.
| 1555 Eden Decades 165 He coulde not longe abyde the hautynes of Petrus Arias. 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxxi. 23 The hawltinesse wherewith they be pufft up. 1592 Warner Alb. Eng. vii. xxxvii. (1612) 179 Honors made him haughtie, and his haughtines to erre. 1645 Milton Tetrach. (1851) 206 To lay their hautinesse under a severity which they deserv'd. a 1745 Swift Will II, Lett., etc. 1768 IV. 261 King William discovered so much haughtiness and disdain, both in words and gestures. 1872 J. L. Sanford Estim. Eng. Kings, Chas. I, 331 The dignity of bearing..was..often replaced and travestied by a frigid haughtiness. |
b. as a mock title.
| 1641 Milton Animadv. Wks. 1738 I. 76 To send home his Haughtiness well bespurted with his own Holy-water. 1794 Wolcott (P. Pindar) Ode Wks. 1812 III. 261 Their most high Haughtinesses. |
† 2. Exalted character, loftiness, nobility, grandeur; loftiness (of courage), bravery. Obs.
| 1564 Golding Justine 77 (R.) In hautinesse of courage..and in strength of body, he farre excelled all. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 1176/1 Which answer..moued a maruellous shout and reioising..the haltinesse thereof was so wonderfull. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage i. ix. 44, I hope that the haughtinesse of the Attempt..shall rather purchase pardon to my slippes, then blame for my rashnesse. |