verdancy
(ˈvɜːdənsɪ)
[See verdant a. and -ancy.]
1. The quality, condition, or character of being verdant; greenness.
| 1631 May tr. Barclay's Mirr. Mindes i. 39 But the greatest delight is, that soe faire a verdancy is almost distinguished into diuerse colours. Ibid. 100 England abounding in rich pastures..doth euery where delight the eyes of the beholders with a most beautifull verdancy. 1882 Gd. Words 608 Yellow freckles in some leaves may bestrew a surface of unfaded verdancy. 1888 Harper's Mag. July 220 We see..the same wonderful varieties of verdancy. |
† b. transf. Freshness of appearance. Obs.—1
| 1678 Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 368 Had not the Youth and Verdancy of her Face contradicted the ripeness of her Discoursings, you would have thought her well in years. |
2. fig. Innocence, inexperience; rawness, simplicity.
| 1849 W. S. Mayo Kaloolah xxxvii, True, in the verdancy of youthful sentiment, many a one has shrunk from the profane association of ruby lips with the processes of mastication and deglutition. 1863 Baily's Mag. Jan. 358 Alas for my verdancy! |