cloudiness
(ˈklaʊdɪnɪs)
[f. cloudy + -ness.]
State or quality of being cloudy, in various senses.
1. lit. and transf. (see cloudy 2, 3, 4).
| 1594 Plat Jewell Ho. i. Divers New Exp. 56 The steines, filth, and clowdinesse that maketh them..so darksome. 1610 Markham Masterp. i. xiv. 39 Cloudinesse of the vrine. 1668 D. Smith Voy. Constantinople in Misc. Cur. (1708) III. 7 The Rock of Lisbon..was scarce discernible by reason of the cloudiness of the Weather. 1805 W. Saunders Min. Waters 340 Prussiat of potash instantly produced a blue cloudiness. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. iii. 282 The day seemed changed to cloudiness and rain. |
2. fig. (see cloudy 5, 6.)
| a 1600 Hooker Serm. Pride (1617) 77 When they are able to appale with the cloudinesse of their looke. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. (1843) 61/2 Cloudiness..and trouble in his countenance. 1779–81 Johnson L.P. Wks. 1816 X. 22 Scholastick cloudiness still hung about him. 1837 Hallam Hist. Lit. iii. iii. §25, The cloudiness of his expression increases as we proceed. |