gracelessnessn.
/ˈɡreɪslᵻsnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈɡreɪslᵻsnᵻs/ The quality or condition of being graceless (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > evil and graceless > [noun]
ungraciousness1509
gracelessness1582
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [noun] > reprobacy
ungraciousness1509
gracelessness1582
reprobacy1591
reprobateness1611
reprobancea1616
1582 R. Browne Life & Manners All True Christians ii. sig. C2v/2 They make their Baptisme a pledge, and seale of gracelesnes & mischeefe.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 3 What hath beene written against the gracelesnes of your Archbishoprick.
1614 T. Adams Diuells Banket i. 22 Wee finde Grace compared to Fire, and gracelessnesse to water.
1653 R. Baxter Right Method Settled Peace 366 To be Tempted is no sign of Gracelessness.
1757 E. Perronet Mitre (new ed.) ii. lxxiv. 78 What is heard but News, or tales? Genius of Priests, and of their sales, Of gracelessness and gain!
1798 E. Spenser Ugly Club 36 There you may trace the grace of gracelessness; and trace curves that never enterd Euclid's brains!
1816 Edinb. Rev. 26 313 The gay swordsmen..carry off their gracelessness as a matter of course.
1881 A. C. Swinburne Mary Stuart ii. iii To crave grace of her for his gracelessness.
1933 ‘G. Orwell’ Down & Out xxiv. 175 They had..a gracelessness, a patina of antique filth, quite different from mere shabbiness.
1971 New York 25 Oct. 78/2 Our tardiness in no way excused..the pathetic gracelessness of the service.
2006 Guardian 20 June ii. 3/2 Lynne Truss contrasts Gallic politesse with the Fawltyesque gracelessness of her native sales staff.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1582