mischievousnessn.
/ˈmɪstʃᵻvəsnəs/, U.S. /ˈmɪstʃᵻvəsnəs/, /ˈmɪʃtʃᵻvəsnəs/ The quality or condition of being mischievous; injuriousness, harmfulness, perniciousness. Also in weakened sense: petty maliciousness; playful naughtiness, roguishness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > quality
loathnessc1175
grievousness1303
malicea1382
noyfulnessa1398
mischievousness1567
harmfulnessa1586
balefulness1590
illnessc1595
hurt1608
hurtfulness1611
mischief1646
noxiousness1655
deleteriousness1758
maleficence1796
vice1837
bale-fire1855
disutility1879
nocuousness1894
disvalue1925
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > [noun]
mischievousness1567
mischief1646
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [noun] > mischievousness
mischievousness1567
1567 tr. Pope Pius II Hist. Ladye Lucres & Eurialus (new ed.) G ij b Myscheuousnes be not too be encreased but too be lessed.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Rev. xii. 3) A Dragon the devil is called..for his mischievousnesse.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 525 Many were sensible of the mischievousness of such a precedent.
1785 W. Marshall Minutes in Rural Econ. Midland Counties (1790) II. 56 A striking instance of the..mischievousness of mice.
1869 T. Root School Amusements 161 I must be continually on the watch, to prevent mischievousness.
1884 Manch. Examiner 1 Dec. 5/4 The tendency to scandal-mongering..only equalled..in mischievousness by the spirit of rationalism.
1938 R. K. Narayan Dark Room i. 17 ‘That's all you care for us poor folk,’ Ramani said with an elaborate mischievousness.
1991 T. Barnes Midsummer Killing (BNC) 19 His voice..was gentle with a mischievousness lurking beneath, the mischievousness of a mind that loved to irk convention.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1567