inanityn.
/ɪˈnanɪti/ 1. The quality or condition of being inane, empty, or void; emptiness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > fact of being unoccupied > [noun] > emptiness
leernessc1000
vanitya1400
emptinessc1450
inanity1607
vacuation1611
blankness1850
1607 R. Parker Scholasticall Disc. against Antichrist i. iii. 128 How ill God is pleased with that which is vaine, through inanitie of commoditie and of proffit which ought to bee in it.
1631 S. Jerome Arraignem. Whole Creature xiii. §3. 208 What shall fill..the Inanity and Vacuity of the heart of man?
a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry IV cccxxv, in Poems (1878) IV. 82 Where pruneing Lawes lye by; till the inanitye Of Branches call 'em out, lest the whole Dye.
1744 J. Armstrong Art of preserving Health ii. 38 The elemental tubes, Collaps'd and shrunk with long inanity.
2. figurative.
a. Want of substance of solidity; the quality of being void of interest; inability to satisfy desire; unsatisfactoriness; vanity; hollowness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > emptiness or insubstantiality
vacuity1593
inanity1603
slightnessa1616
outsideness1647
frothinessa1716
sleaziness1727
floatiness1839
thistledown1868
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [noun] > state or quality of being wearisome or tedious
irksomeness1533
wearisomeness1579
inanity1603
tediositya1625
drynessa1637
unliveliness1643
flatness1649
tedium1662
tiresomeness1668
aridity1692
languor1741
dullness1751
uninterestingness1794
ponderousness1801
yawniness1805
unimpressiveness1827
slowness1828
grey1830
fadeness1837
woodenness1854
tristeness1866
boresomeness1883
boringness1893
stodginess1899
monochrome1962
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. iii. xiii. 659 Their inanitie..will sufficiently be felt, and doth sufficiently produce it selfe.
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) ii. i. 179 O the inanity and emptiness of temporal Goods.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 133. ⁋4 Such helpless destitution, such dismal inanity..All is gloomy privation or impotent desire.
1826 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. III. xxix. 55 He has placed the inanity..of such high-sounding terms in their true name.
1877 F. W. Farrar In Days of Youth (ed. 4) xxviii. 279 The inanity of its own cherished hopes.
b. Mental vacuity; lack of ideas or sense; frivolity, senselessness, silliness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > giddiness, empty-headedness > [noun]
giddiheadc1275
giddinessa1290
lighthead1340
vanityc1386
glaikitnessa1500
idleness1535
levity1564
emptiness1577
vainness1591
frivolousnessa1631
volageness1633
grollery1637
brain-giddinessa1652
desipience1656
desipiencya1682
frothinessa1716
inanity1756
frivolity1796
unpracticalness1828
unpracticality1840
bird-wittedness1854
scattiness1959
1756 J. Warton Ess. on Pope I. iii. 201 The Rambler calls his [sc. Walsh's] works Pages of Inanity.
a1771 C. Smart Hilliad in Poems (1791) i. 194 Inanity will ever be the same.
1803 Ann. Rev. 1 400/2 This same topic is treated with similar inanity for thirteen pages more.
1878 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. Eng. 18th Cent. II. ix. 529 The pretentious and verbose inanity of his theological writings.
c. Vacuity of existence; want of active interest; idleness, inaction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > [noun]
idlea1000
idlenessc1000
emptinessOE
idlelaikc1175
idleheada1325
idleship1357
otiosity1483
idlehoodc1540
idleteth1584
idleset1591
fallownessa1594
vacantry1598
vacancy1615
lurgy1769
inanity1782
inoccupation1783
vacuity1817
1782 W. F. Martyn Geogr. Mag. 1 737 They consider any further exertions unnecessary, and retire again to the enjoyment of their favourite inanity.
1797 W. Godwin Enquirer ii. i. 165 A..state of inanity and torpor.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian i, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 28 A fine gentleman, bred up in the thorough idleness and inanity of pursuit, which..is absolutely necessary to the character in perfection.
1837 C. M. Sedgwick Live & let Live (1876) 92 Do not let us consider any occupation so vulgar as indolence and inanity.
3. with an and plural. An instance of vacuity or frivolity; an inane remark or practice.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > giddiness, empty-headedness > [noun] > instance of
giddiness1593
inanity1661
tomfoolery1821
frivolitya1832
tomfoolishness1875
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing xvi. 153 To make good its resemblance to that Commentitious Inanity.
1808 ‘P. Plymley’ Two More Lett. on Catholics vi. 13 The embroidered inanities and the sixth-form effusions of Mr. Canning.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxviii. 280 If this young lord does..whisper his drivelling inanities in your ears.
1863 J. G. Holland Lett. to Joneses viii. 122 The vanities and inanities of fashion.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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