artlessnessn.
/ˈɑːtləsnəs/, U.S. /ˈɑrtləsnəs/ The quality of being artless; esp. freedom from artificiality; frank simplicity, guilelessness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [noun] > artlessness, guilessness, or innocence
simplesse1372
simplenessa1382
innocencec1385
simplicitya1500
innocencya1513
ingenuousness1611
plain-heartedness1647
artlessness1663
naivety1708
naïveté1725
acacy1727
simple-heartedness1822
simple-mindedness1827
naiveness1854
onefoldness1887
authenticity1910
1663 E. Waterhouse Fortescutus Illustratus i. 30 This is added, to take away all Arguments of excuse, which Martial Natures are apt to make in Apology for their artlessness.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 331 Such a noble Simplicity in thy Story, such an honest Artlessness in thy Mind.
1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. vii. viii. 107 The artlessness of unadorned truth.
1816 J. Austen Emma I. vi. 84 She had all the natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness in herself.
a1878 B. Taylor Stud. German Lit. (1879) 126 The attractive quaintness and artlessness of the old dialect.
1916 E. W. Wilcox World Voices 104 Your eyes (that mask with innocence their guile), The (artful) artlessness of all your ways.
1965 Amer. Anthropologist 67 143 The material..is told with the artlessness and friendliness with which these old people talk.
2004 D. F. Wallace Oblivion 284 There was an artlessness about him that helped people open up.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1663