soreness
(ˈsɔənɪs)
Forms: α. 1 sarnys, -nis, 3 særnes, 4–5 sarnes, 4 sarenes, 6, 8– Sc. sairness. β. 4, 6 sorenes, 6 sornes, soare-, 6–7 sorenesse, 7– soreness.
[OE. sárnys (f. sár sore a.1), = OFris. sêrnesse, MHG. sêrnisse.]
1. The condition of being physically sore, in pain, or painful; pain, painfulness.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. iii. 16 On sarnysse þu acenst cild. c 1000 ― Hom. I. 122 Ure sarnyssa he sylf abær. 13.. in Leg. Rood (1871) 85 All for noght þou feynes þe, All þi sarenes will we se. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4236 Þe sarnes sone it was astaynt. c 1480 Henryson Sum Pract. Med. 19 Nowdir fevir,..Seiknes nor sairnes. 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. (W. de W.) v. lviii. 175 The marowe heelyth..the sorenes of the throte and of the breestes. 1562 (title), Bullein's Bulwarke of defence againste all Sicknes, Sornes, and woundes. 1660 Blount Boscobel 42 Which..serv'd to encrease rather then asswage the sorenesse of his feet. 1722–7 Boyer Dict. Royal ii. s.v., Soreness of the Eyes, Mal des yeux. 1808 Med. Jrnl. XIX. 21 He complained of soreness in his mouth. 1876 J. S. Bristowe Th. & Pract. Med. (1878) 159 The soreness and inflammation of the throat subside. |
2. Mental pain, distress, or irritation; irritability, touchiness.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. vi. 6 He..wæs ᵹehrepod mid heortan sarnisse wið innan. a 1300 Cursor M. 26377 Teres falland on þin ei Þe sarnes o þin hert to wrei. 1667 Decay Chr. Piety vii. 153 Whilest the soreness of his late pangs of conscience remains. 1721 Ramsay Keitha 8 His face speaks out the sairness of his heart. 1796 Nelson 15 July in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 211, I congratulate you on the soreness which the French feel for your strict blockade of the Port of Toulon. 1832 Lytton Eugene A. i. x, I leave you with more soreness at my late haste than I will acknowledge. 1889 Law Times LXXXII. 243/1 The soreness incident to separation has disappeared. |
† 3. Distress, trouble, misfortune. Obs.
| c 1205 Lay. 13639 Ich eow wulle telle..of muche særnesse þe isiȝen is to londe. |
4. Severe or serious character.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iv. (1598) 392 For with the sorenesse of the fall, if she had not had breath giuen her, she had deliuered a foolish soule to Pluto. |