richnessn.
/ˈrɪtʃnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈrɪtʃnᵻs/ 1.
a. The fact or condition of being wealthy. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > wealth > [noun]
plentyc1300
richness?a1400
wealthfulnessc1450
wealthinessa1513
substantiousness1596
plenitya1622
plenitude1631
rowthinessa1838
flushness1868
divitism1890
oofiness1935
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 155 (MED) My sister Aleyse..is now forsaken, For on of mor richenesse..þou has taken.
c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock Donet (1921) 180 (MED) Pouerte mai not be knowun..but if ricchenes or ricchete be bifore knowun.
?1518 R. Copland tr. P. Gringore Complaynte them that ben to late Maryed (new ed.) sig. Biiiv Rychenes in youth with good gouernaunce Often helpeth age.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie xxxix. 234 For the true richnesse..is the blessing of God.
1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca Deuout Contempl. v. 90 The richnesse of a Prince is to be seene in his Ward-robe.
1677 tr. A.-N. Amelot de La Houssaie Hist. Govt. Venice ii. 188 The outward Robe of the Nobility..has no difference, nor does at all distinguish..the poverty and richness of the Wearer.
1702 J. Northleigh Topogr. Descr. p. xxxi We magnify the Richness of their Country, and upbraid their King for the profuse Expences in his Palaces at home.
1775 C. Varlo Schemes ii. 35 It is..the richness of individuals, and plenty of money, that makes the alteration in the times.
1841 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 2 Jan. 396/3 The rate of wages has no reference to the richness or poorness of a country.
1894 Hansard's Parl. Deb. 4th Ser. 28 103 The test of whether a parish should pay was its richness, and the test of whether a parish should receive was its poverty.
1917 Proc. Amer. Bankers Assoc. 292 Germany had no iron mines, and there could be no richness nor wealth without manufacturing.
2006 T. M. Leonard Encycl. Developing World I. 271/1 The richness of a country does not depend on how many natural resources reserves it has.
b. The fact or quality of being valuable or precious; luxuriousness, sumptuousness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [noun] > profuseness, luxuriousness, or lushness
richness1564
profuseness1584
prodigality1597
luxury?1611
luxuritya1636
luxuriancy1648
voluptuousness1652
luxuriance1728
luxuriation1839
lavishness1859
luxuriousness1872
overflowingness1883
lushness1900
1564 A. Golding tr. Justinus Hist. Trogus Pompeius xliv. f. 182 Hercules allured with the richnes of the botie came out of Asia thither.
1569 T. Stocker tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. Successors Alexander i. xi. f. 19 In this sorte was the Charriot apparelled... So that for the beauty, richnesse and excellency thereof, they were neuer weried with the sight.
a1640 C. Wandesford Bk. Instr. to Son (1777) §83 A Jewel of that unvaluable Richness, not estimative but intrinsicall.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 361 The Tragic Ornaments were so famous for their Richness.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Apr. (1965) I. 400 The Mosques..only differ in Largeness and richness of Materials.
1773 H. Mackenzie Man of World I. xv. 164 The richness of the prize, with immediate revenge, awakened together in his mind.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece V. xlii. 201 Datus was proverbial..for the richness of its gold-works.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 205 Take the little bed..and deck it like the Queen's For richness.
1918 J. A. Cramb Schönbrunn ix. 308 A delicious recklessness was in her bearing, forming a bizarre contrast with the richness of her dress.
1974 D. Yarwood Archit. Europe ii. 40/1 Granite and alabaster were also imported..to give richness and lustre to interiors.
2002 B. Risebero Story Western Archit. (ed. 3) 28 Architecture..took on an oriental richness as the Corinthian style..began to dominate.
2. Abundance of some good constituent; lushness; depth, fullness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [noun] > sumptuousness
magnificencea1425
costiousnessc1443
sumpt1449
sumptuousness1525
costliness1528
magnificency1538
sumptuosity1550
richness1597
sumpture?1624
opulence1650
ritziness1931
plushiness1938
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > [noun] > making > quality of
richness1597
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > [noun] > condition of
fatheada1325
fecundityc1420
fertility1490
battleness1598
pinguity1623
exuberance1691
richness1796
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
1597 R. Tofte Laura Ep. Ded. sig. A3 The richnes of the ground is knowne by the Corne.
1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver iv. 27 The water..leaving her Thicknesse, Soyle or Filth, which I call Richnesse, among the Grasse.
1757 A. Cooper Compl. Distiller iii. lii. 223 The Rasberry is also added to augment the Richness of the Liquor.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 158 This tract of land is reckoned equal in richness and fertility to any in America.
1814 W. Scott Diary 25 Aug. in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1837) III. vii. 232 The coast of Skye..displayed a richness of vegetation..to which we have hitherto been strangers.
1871 F. W. Farrar Witness of Hist. ii. 79 The manysidedness and richness of His character.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 33/3 (advt.) Campbell's Tomato Soup. You relish its flavor... You enjoy its satisfying richness.
1960 R. G. Haggar Conc. Encycl. Continental Pottery & Porcelain 352/2 A powdered-blue ground colour of great depth and richness.
1991 CD Rev. Oct. 90/4 The superb blend between voice parts and richness of choral sound.
1998 K. McLeish Aristotle 24 The variety and richness of female roles may reflect the excellence of travesty acting in the ancient theatre.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.?a1400