staidnessn.
/ˈsteɪdnɪs/ The quality or fact of being staid (see the adjective.)
1. Stability, permanence, constancy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun]
stablenessa1300
tack1412
steadfastnessc1450
surenessc1450
stability1470
radicationa1500
constance1509
steadiness1530
certitudea1533
firmance1533
staidness1556
establishment1561
settledness1571
settling1582
state1597
groundedness1601
inviscerationa1631
setness1642
unmalleableness1644
fixedness1647
poise1649
inveteracy1716
well-foundedness1735
fixity1791
unmalleability1828
deep-rootedness1860
instatement1877
steady state1885
hard and fastness1897
1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Duties i. f. 51v Wherof comes a great presumption, that they haue no stayednesse.
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 95 b Her stayednesse in sticking to her friends.
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 155 This facultie of the fantasie is..so farre from stayednes, that euen in the time of sleep it hardly taketh any rest.
1613 J. Davies Muses Teares in Wks. (Grosart) I. 13/2 Good Kings are least alone, when most alone; For stilnesse is the staidnesse of their Throne.
1631 F. Lenton Characterismi sig. G12 He is a man of no staidnesse, for he leaues a Rocke to build vpon the Sand.
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing 111 That serenity and fixed stayedness, which is necessary to so seuere an intentness.
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes App.: Reasons for Bill 8 Before they have..stayedness of Mind to withstand the Temptations.
2. Sobriety of character, manner, or conduct.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > other specific behaviour > [noun] > staidness
sobernessc1384
sobriety1548
sobermood1556
staidness1561
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [noun]
earnestOE
sadnessc1350
serious1440
seriouste1440
demurity1483
seriosity?a1505
gravity1509
demureness?1518
seriousness1530
solemness1530
sobriety1548
staidness1561
graveness1577
gravidad1641
earnestness1670
substantialness1683
solemnity1712
smilelessness1844
unsmilingness1873
humourlessness1890
straightfacedness1982
1561 T. Hoby Breef Rehersall in tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer sig. Yy.iiiiv Staidenesse, noble courage [etc.].
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xviii. 26) i. f. 62 His accustomed stayednesse.
a1632 T. Middleton & J. Webster Any Thing for Quiet Life (1662) i. sig. Bv A Matrons sober staidness in her eye.
1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico i. 19 His dexterity of wit, and staiedness of judgement, far riper then his years.
1685 J. Crowne Sir Courtly Nice i. 5 Will you never learn staidness and gravity?
a1720 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. 11 Endued with a gravity and staidness of mind, that is seldom seen in children.
1825 M. M. Sherwood Old Times i. 11 It compelled her to observe a stayedness of manner.
1842 R. Browning In a Gondola in Bells & Pomegranates No. III: Dramatic Lyrics Where's a trace Of the staidness and reserve..In the same child's playing-face?
1884 M. Crommelin Brown-eyes iv. 42 A sweet staidness noticeable in all the women of Marken.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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n.1556