unstablenessn.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈsteɪblnəs/, U.S. /ˌənˈsteɪb(ə)lnəs/ The condition of being unstable; instability:
a. Of persons, the mind, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [noun]
unsteadfastnessa1300
falsenessc1330
unstablenessc1380
varyingc1380
inconstancec1386
variance1390
geriness1412
instabilityc1422
changeability?a1425
mutabilitya1425
changec1425
changeableness1447
unconstancec1449
unstabilitya1470
mutableness1481
unsureness1481
instableness1483
variation1509
inconstancy1526
shittleness1530
fickleness1548
unconstancy1548
unconstantness1551
inconstantness?a1562
pliableness1562
fast and loose1575
volubility1603
levity1604
unconstability1611
flexibleness1623
vagrancy1642
self-inconsistency1655
inconsistency1665
flittingnessa1680
easiness1705
inconsistence1713
versatility1755
contrariety1762
vibration1785
changefulness1791
girouettism1825
pirouettism1839
weathercockism1843
pirouettiveness1844
volatileness1849
unfixity1856
ficklety1888
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 58 Medling of freris cloþis telliþ unstablenesse [in virtue] of þes ordris.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. II. 175 Þe vnstabilnesse of þouȝtes schal be bytokened by many manere dyuersite of cloþinge.
c1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 136 Thegh thay, throgh kynd falsnesse & vnstablenesse that yn ham ys, lytyl tel of othes.
1539 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) 75 Unstablenesse of wytte and slipper remembraunce.
1590 J. Greenwood Answere Giffords Def. 13 Your vnstablenes in denying and affirming with one breath.
1646 P. Bulkley Gospel-covenant v. 368 By reason of our unstablenesse of spirit, we are apt to make many a breach.
1676 M. Hale Contempl. Moral & Divine: 2nd Pt. 49 Unstableness, Vanity, Love of Pleasures, Easiness to be corrupted in Youth.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 124 His natural unstableness debars him from adopting any fixed mode of action.
b. Of conditions, life, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > changeableness > [noun]
unstablenessc1340
varyingc1380
uncertaintyc1384
brotelnessc1386
were1390
instabilityc1422
bricklenessa1425
changeability?a1425
changeableness1447
vertibility1447
mutability?a1475
variableness?a1475
inconstance1509
mutationa1542
fickleness1548
variety1548
unconstancy1563
mobility1567
unstability1572
vicissitude1576
variousness1607
inconstancy1613
slipperinessa1618
alterableness1633
versatilousness1640
bottomlessness1642
lability1651
brittlety1652
versatileness1654
fluctuancy1659
fugitivenessa1661
alterability1661
permutability1662
unfixedness1668
mutablenessa1677
flittingnessa1680
frailness1687
flittiness1692
versability1721
plasticity1727
variability1771
unestablishment1776
fluctuabilitya1786
changefulness1791
unsettledness1799
versatility1802
harlequinism1808
fluidity1824
fitfulness1825
sensitiveness1825
insubstantiality1848
contingency1858
rootlessness1859
shiftingness1866
ficklety1888
variancy1888
impredicability1906
proteanism1909
c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 353 Þe unstabelnes of þis werld.
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) ii. pr. iv. 43 Þe vnstablenesse of fortune.
c1430 J. Lydgate Compl. Black Knight 457 Thy stormy wilful variaunce I-meynt with chaunge and gret vnstablenesse.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum lxxxix. 411 A woman..that sawe..the synnes, and the vnstablenesse, that was in the worlde.
1564 T. Palfreyman Baldwin's Treat. Moral Philos. (new ed.) f. 85v O worlde thou hast so manye countenaunces in thy vanitie, that thou leadest all wandering in vnstablenes.
1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. xxxvi. sig. Y6 The frailty and vnstablenes of wealth.
1670 Ld. North Narr. Passages Long Parl. in Coll. Scarce & Valuable Tracts (1748) I. 27 To shew unto those insolent Commanders of the Army, the Unstableness of their Condition.
1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. iii. vii. 421 A weaker prince would have lost his crown, considering its unstableness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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