swartness
(ˈswɔːtnɪs)
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being swart; swarthiness, duskiness.
| a 1100 Aldhelm Gloss. i. 4681 (Napier 121/1) Nigredine, sweartnysse. a 1395 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xii, The swartnesse [1533 blackenes] that I haue is all wythoute. 1530 Palsgr. 278/1 Swartnesse, estalleure. 1584 B. R. tr. Herodotus ii. 75 The blacknesse and swartnesse of the people. 1590 P. Barrough Meth. Phisick iii. xix. (1639) 133 It chanceth sometime the face to be made very red..but this colour turneth againe into swartnesse. 1823 Scott Peveril xxvi, She..denounced the plague of swartness to the linen, of leanness to the poultry, of dearth and dishonour to the housekeeping. |