plentifulnessn.
/ˈplɛntᵻf(ᵿ)lnəs/, U.S. /ˈplɛn(t)əfəlnəs/ 1. The state or condition of possessing or yielding something in abundance; fruitfulness, productiveness; wealth, affluence. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [noun] > condition of abounding in something
plentinessa1382
plentifulnessa1504
fullness?1537
generosity1904
a1504 J. Holt Lac Puerorum (1508) sig. Giiv All nownes that betoken plentefulnes or pouerte be of the same strength.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. vi. 36 Through the plentifulnesse of the yeere they do deliuer more.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 153 To breake into Thessalie, with the plentifulnesse thereof to relieue their wants.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients iii. i. 227 By the luxurie of an unexperienced wit they delight themselves in the plentifulnesse of a rich and superfluous Invention.
1701 W. Nicholls Duty Inferiours towards Superiours ii. 104 That a regard be had to avoid stinginess, and keeping House after a sordid pitiful manner, contrary to the Honour of the Family and Plentifulness of the Estate.
1757 tr. C.-M. Guyon New Hist. E.-Indies I. 312 Misery is the lot of Indians in general, notwithstanding the plentifulness and riches of their country.
1858 D. H. Hill Consideration of Serm. on Mount 242 Dwelling securely under the vine and fig-tree was typical of peace, prosperity and plentifulness.
1871 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 693/1 This immense energy, fertility, and plentifulness is..one of the gifts that can least be warranted to last.
1963 Amer. Anthropologist 65 720 The small size of tropical forest settlements is..a function of the plentifulness of land.
2. Abundance, copiousness, numerousness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [noun]
speedOE
fulsomenesslOE
wonea1300
fulsomeheada1325
cheapc1325
largitya1382
plenteousnessa1382
plenteoustea1382
plentya1382
abundancec1384
affluencec1390
largenessc1400
uberty?a1412
aboundingc1425
fullness1440
copiousness1447
rifenessc1450
copy1484
abundancy?1526
copiosity1543
plentifulness1555
ampleness1566
umberty?1578
acquire1592
amplitude1605
plentitude1609
plenitude1614
fertility1615
profluence1623
fluency1624
flushness1662
rowtha1689
sonsea1689
affluentness1727
raff1801
richness1814
1555 R. Eden Of North Regions in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 265v This sea..poureth furth his plentifulnesse.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) i. 39 Besides many other argumentes, which the plentifulnesse of the matter yeelded to the sharpnes of his wit.
1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania i. 143 An other delicate Mayd, with as sweet a voyce, as her owne louely sweetnes, which was in her, in more then vsuall plentifulnesse, sang this Song.
1671 J. Webster Metallographia xiv. 219 If it be hard, as in the plentifulness of silver it is overcome of the other Ore of a leaden colour, so it far excels it in most excellent beautifulness.
1734 tr. C. F. von Wolff Dis. True Cause Wonderful Multiplication of Corn 35 Thus it appears that no sure Consequence can be drawn from the Plentifulness of Corn in a Garden, to that in the Fields.
1795 J. Sullivan Hist. Maine 38 There is none which..exceeds it in plentifulness of fish.
1848 J. S. Mill Princ. Polit. Econ. i. xii. §2 The plentifulness of land seems to me the true explanation.
1880 Scribner's Monthly Feb. 504 The log fence..belonged to the same period of plentifulness, even cumbersomeness, of timber.
1905 Edinb. Rev. July 197 Evident from the very plentifulness of these remains.
1932 G. D. Fuller & H. S. Conard tr. J. Braun-Blanquet Plant Sociol. iii. 30 Abundance is intended to express the plentifulness (number of individuals) of each species.
2002 Guardian (Nexis) 27 Apr. 18 Fish and chips came about because of a profusion of cod and the plentifulness of the potato.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1504