specklessadj.
1. Having no speck or speckle; free from specks, blemishes, flaws, etc. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > perfection > [adjective] > spotless or unblemished
without sakea1250
wemless1398
masclelessc1400
motelessc1400
unbruisedc1440
unblemished?c1450
unwemmedc1475
unstained1555
blemishless1583
blankless1589
ungalled1603
speckless1788
fleckless1847
invitiate1870
1788 J. Wolcot Peter's Prophecy 41 The beautiful deformities of nature! Birds without heads, and tails, and wings, and legs,..speckless eggs [etc.].
a1827 W. Wordsworth Misc. Sonn. ii. xix If his thought stand clear,..Bright, speckless, as a softly-moulded tear.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. vii. 333 The second sun set—still the horizon was speckless.
1889 C. Edwardes Sardinia 120 The speckless blue of the sky.
2. Free from specks of dirt, dust, etc.; scrupulously or spotlessly clean. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > [adjective]
cleanc897
fair?c1225
netc1330
cleanly1340
unspotted1382
blotless?a1400
unwemmeda1400
spotlessc1400
neat1494
unblotted1548
unstained1555
stainlessa1586
exempt1586
unsoiledc1592
undefiled1596
unsullied1598
dirtlessa1618
immaculatea1631
innocent1645
unsmeared1648
unsmutched1809
speckless1827
spandy-clean1838
unblackened1864
soilless1868
smudgeless1924
clinical1932
squeaky clean1975
1827 E. B. Pusey in H. P. Liddon et al. Life E. B. Pusey (1893) I. vii. 137 Viewing their minds in the almost speckless mirror of his own.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. i. 15 The leaded windows were bright and speckless.
1879 K. S. Macquoid Berkshire Lady 159 Afraid of soiling his speckless shoes.
Derivatives
ˈspecklessly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > [adverb]
cleanc1000
cleanlyc1200
spotlesslya1671
cleanlily1698
innocently1715
specklessly1862
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > perfection > [adverb] > without flaw, corruption, damage, etc.
scathelya1375
purea1500
inviolatelya1513
purely1537
with (the) safety of?1560
untaintedly1611
immaculately1620
pluperfectly1831
scathelessly1844
faultlessly1856
unaccusably1859
specklessly1862
impeccably1874
flawlessly1884
flecklessly1891
1862 T. A. Trollope Marietta I. x. 187 Signor Giusseppe Palli..equally rigid and bolt upright in his chair, equally specklessly black.
1876 A. D. Whitney Sights & Insights xiii. 130 The whole turn-out is specklessly brilliant in finish.
ˈspecklessness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > [noun]
cleanness1398
cleanliness1590
immaculacy1774
unsulliedness1863
specklessness1882
spotlessness1888
1882 ‘F. Anstey’ Vice Versâ iv. 64 His dress..having all the uncreased trimness and specklessness [etc.].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.1788