unsurenessn.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈʃʊənəs/, /(ˌ)ʌnˈʃɔːnəs/, U.S. /ˌənˈʃʊrnəs/ 1. Uncertainty; insecurity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [noun]
unwitternessa1300
were1303
unsickernessc1340
uncertaintyc1380
non-certainc1390
doubta1400
unsureness1430
untrust1430
unsuretyc1460
non-certainty1475
incertain1502
doubtfulness1530
uncertitudea1556
incertitude1603
incertainty1609
dubiosity1646
dubiousness1651
dubietyc1750
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1494) i. i. A vi b/1 Where they stode first in sykernesse Of ioye..Oute of their rest they fyll in vnsurenesse In sorowe and sighynge.
c1440 Eng. Conq. Ireland 51 And euery Surnesse hath vnsurnes at the ende.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 285/2 Unsurenesse, deseurete.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Infirmitas What vnsurenes doe you see in the mariage hetherto?
1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 275 The greit frailtie and vnsureness of all strenthis eirthly.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. xxii. 226/1 The state of man..doth shew..with what vnsurenesse the seat of maiesty is possest.
1863 ‘Holme Lee’ Annis Warleigh III. 133 Her hints to Rachel..touching the unsureness of the future.
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
1481 (a1470) J. Tiptoft tr. Cicero De Amicicia (Caxton) sig. c2v Ther ben two thynges whiche proue in many men lyghtnes, and vnsurenesse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1430