pruriencyn.

1669 W. Simpson Hydrologia Chymica 164 An incipient putrefaction which begets a pruriency or itching in the blood.

?1785 J. Moffat Aretæus ii. 283 The knees itch, and the pruriency is scratched with a degree of pleasure.

1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision I. xxix. 128 Each one Plied quickly his keen nails, through furiousness Of ne'er abated pruriency.

1852 J. Laurie Elem. Homoeopathic Pract. Physic 514 There was formerly a raw spot on the anus between the legs; pruriency and humidity of the integuments.

1656 in J. Mede Diatribæ Pars IV Author's Life sig. Aaa6^v Sometimes would take upon him the authority to rebuke, when others in the pregnancy, or pruriency of wit, would adventure to criticize upon, to the disparagement of any other mens parts, or performances.

1672 H. More Brief Reply 207 There is such a pruriency and precipitant inclination in humane nature to these superstitions.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 151. ⁋2 A general Impatience of Thought, and a constant Pruriency of inordinate Desire.

1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. xx. 132 This self-same vile pruriency for fresh adventures in all things, has got so strongly into our habit and humours,—and so wholly intent are we upon satisfying the impatience of our concupiscence that way,—that nothing but the gross and more carnal parts of a composition will go down.

1826 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. (ed. 2) II. v. 114 We have scourges in store for the pruriency of dissatisfaction.

1840 T. De Quincey Style: No. II in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 398/1 Now, if the pruriency of your curiosity should carry you to torment and vex this aged man, by pressing a special investigation into this word like, the only result is likely to be that you will kill him, and do yourself no good.

1909 Times 14 Jan. 6/1 M. Judet regards the present restricted form of publicity [about public executions] as being calclated to stimulate pruriency without vindicating the dignity of the law.

1712 Spectator 4 128 I have..weighed with my self..the Impulses of Flesh and Blood..and reflect with some Scorn, that most Part of what we in our Youth think gay and polite, is nothing else but an Habit of indulging a Pruriency that Way.

1795 W. Roscoe Life Lorenzo de' Medici I. i. 51 A pruriency of imagination, not excuseable at any time of life.

1806 J. W. Croker Amazoniad iii. 53 The reader will find a very luxurious description of the dancing girls in Abbe Raynal's book. The good Abbe sometimes indulged himself..in a strain of grave philosophical pruriency. He is truly eloquent in the subject of their bosom cases.

1867 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 I. vi. 236 The pruriency that stains the classical mythology.

1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. iii. 109 She will have learned what..the wrapt-up pruriencies intend.

1919 E. Wharton French Ways iv. i. 62 The French are not frightened by the names of things;..they dislike what we call coarseness much less than what they call pruriency.

2001 Washington Post (Nexis) 4 Nov. t10 It raised in my mind the anticipation of exploitative pruriency or debased taste.