touch-me-not-ishnessn.
/ˌtʌtʃmɪˈnɒtɪʃnᵻs/, U.S. /ˌtətʃˌmiˈnɑdɪʃnᵻs/ Disinclination to be touched or interfered with; tendency to avoid close contact; aloofness, coldness, stand-offishness. Cf. touch-me-not n. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [noun] > coldness or lack of warm feeling
coldOE
coldness1557
iciness1579
frost1600
frostiness1629
frigiditya1631
nun's flesh1637
chillness1639
froideur1645
chilliness1817
touch-me-not-ishness1836
chill1837
cold-heartedness1850
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [noun]
highnesseOE
orgelnessOE
orgelOE
orgula1200
hautainesse1297
deignoushedec1330
daina1400
hautesse1399
hautainetya1450
orgulitya1470
courage1484
haughtness1489
stateliness1509
stomacha1513
heighta1525
stiffness1526
fastidie1536
disdainfulness1548
loftiness1548
fastidiousness?1555
haughtiness1555
high-mindedness1571
squeamishness1580
hichtiness1596
morguec1598
signory1598
superciliosity1606
overliness1610
superciliousness1622
excelsity1623
hauteura1628
cavalierism1643
supercilium1657
condescendency1667
supercile1679
uncondescension1681
superbness1682
fastidiosity1704
condescension1752
aristocratism1792
aristocracy1822
patricianism1826
touch-me-not-ishness1836
cavalierishness1860
patronization1944
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) viii. 73 There was a dignity in the air, a touch-me-not-ishness in the walk, a majesty in the eye of the spinster aunt.
1880 Pall Mall Gaz. 18 Dec. 11/2 A certain kind of farouche touch-me-not-ishness goes naturally enough with the uncultivated and passionate nature.
1940 Times 17 Aug. 5/4 About the book-reader there is touch-me-not-ishness, an air of sullen concentration hard to bear.
1998 P. Nicholson Scent of Woman xi. 139 Piqued by his fit of touch-me-not-ishness, Demi did advance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1836