agednessn.
/ˈeɪdʒᵻdnəs/, U.S. /ˈeɪdʒədnəs/ 1. The quality of being aged; old age; the symptoms or characteristics associated with this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [noun]
oldnessOE
antiquity?c1450
agednessa1475
ancienty1524
continuance1528
ancientness1537
anciency1549
hoariness1580
primitiveness1644
antiquary1655
vetustness1727
primitivity1759
vetusty1870
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [noun] > state or quality of
oldnessOE
agednessa1475
ancienty1483
over-oldness1573
a1475 ( S. Scrope tr. Dicts & Sayings Philosophers (Bodl. 943) (1999) 48 (MED) Of sorowe comyth agidnes [Fr. de soucy vient le veillier].
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (vi. 8) i. f. 17 David makth his mone, that his eysyght fadeth, as it were by agednesse.
1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada 214 My wrinkles and withered agednesse.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 33 For Custome without Truth is but agednesse of Error.
1794 J. Whitaker Course Hannibal over Alps II. iv. ii. 309 All the aspect of reverent agedness in his looks.
1873 Spectator 8 Feb. 168/2 The agedness of the world, its sad want of originality.
1940 K. Young Personality & Probl. of Adjustm. ii. xxviii. 778 In some societies a man or woman is old at the middle forties; in others the lower limit of agedness is much higher.
2005 A. Bidulka Tapas on Ramblas xiii. 206 Patrick raised his creaking body from his chair, slowed by an agedness greater than his actual years.
2. Usually with modifying word or phrase. The condition or quality of being a certain age, or of having reached a specified stage of life.See also middle-agedness n. at middle-aged adj. and n. Derivatives, teenagedness n. at teenaged adj. Derivatives.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [noun] > quality of having reached
agedness?1575
?1575 C. Vitell tr. H. Niclaes Prouerbia xx. 42 They begin euenso to attaine vnto the manlie Agednes and to growe-vp therin.
1606 H. Clapham Man. Bibles Doctr. ii. 30 For the common rule, it requireth sufficient agednes.
1651 R. Stapylton in W. Cartwright Comedies sig. b2 v He still was strong and fresh, his Brain was gray. Such agedness might our young Ladies move To somewhat more than a Platonick Love.
1659 tr. Spiritual Journey in R. Southey Common-place Bk. (1849) 2nd Ser. 427/2 The Youth shall travel forward till unto the Old-agedness.
1881 A. R. Ellis Sylvestra II. 261 That middle-agedness some men show so early.
1934 R. D. Allen Organization & Supervision Guidance in Public Educ. 378 The implications of chronological over-agedness and under-agedness for the grade.
2000 M. T. Carroll Pop. Modernity in Amer. iii. 80 The obvious signs of late middle-agedness of..‘Captain Kirk’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.a1475