sweernessn.
Scottish and northern dialect.
1. Indolence, laziness, sloth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun]
sleuthc888
sweernessc888
slacknessc897
unlustOE
aswolkenessc1000
slothc1175
sweeringa1300
sloth-head1303
unlusthead1340
nicetya1387
sluggardy1390
sluggardness1398
nicehead1440
musardryc1450
slugnessc1450
lashness1477
sweerdomc1480
truantness1483
passibilityc1485
sleuthfulness1488
sluggardry1513
slothfulness1526
sluggardise1532
luskishness1538
desidiousnessa1540
ocivity1550
restiness?c1550
niceness1557
laziness1580
easinessa1586
poltroonery1590
facility1615
pigritude1623
pigrity1623
otiosity1632
easefulnessa1639
dronishness1674
reasiness1679
indolence1710
accidity1730
indolency1741
lurgy1769
donothingness1814
far niente1819
oisivity1830
donothingism1839
dronage1846
lotus-eating1852
faineance1853
faineancy1854
bummerism1858
lazyhood1866
bone-laziness1875
sleevelessness1882
bummery1887
sluggardliness1977
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxv. §1 Þeah sio swærnes ðæs lichoman & þa unþeawas oft abisegien þæt mod mid ofergiotulnesse.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28370 My suernes me has don for~gette.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 107 Superfluite, glotany, and lust, and swernes.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Knychthede (1993) vii. 45 Suerenes is a vice quhilk makis a man to hate all gudelynes, and to lufe all viciousnes.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 20 Sweirnes is aganis the thrid command.
1595 A. Duncan Appendix Etymologiae: Index in Latinae Grammaticae Segnities,..sweirnes: desidia.
a1698 W. Row Suppl. in R. Blair Life (1848) (modernized text) ix. 129 Checking himself for swearness, laziness, and loving of his bed too well.
2. Unwillingness, disinclination (to do something).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [noun]
un-i-willa1225
unlustc1230
dangerc1290
loathnessa1300
thronessa1400
grudgingc1420
nilling?a1425
unlustiness?a1425
loathinessc1449
difficulty?c1450
grudge1477
sticking1525
scruple1526
unreadiness1526
sweerness1533
dangerousness1548
untowardnessa1555
envy1557
loathsomeness1560
retractation1563
stickling1589
indisposition1593
loathfulness1596
backwardness1597
unwillingness1597
reluctation1598
offwardness1600
undisposedness1600
hinka1614
reluctancy1621
reluctancea1628
renitence1640
nolencea1651
nolencya1651
indisposedness1651
shyness1651
nolition1653
costiveness1654
sullenness1659
scrupling1665
regret1667
queerness1687
stickiness1689
disinclination1695
uneasinessa1715
tarditude1794
disclination1812
inalacrity1813
grudgingness1820
tarrowing1832
reticence1863
grudgery1889
balkiness1894
safety first1913
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1903) II. v. xxiv. 231 For swernes þat ȝe haue to big, ȝe ar reddy to suffer all þir schamefull..dammaigis.
1659 Melrose Regality Records (1914) I. 218 [He] burstit [a mare]..puting and binding three harrowes togither for hes sueirnes to lift the ane at the land end.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.c888