vocalnessn.
/ˈvəʊklnəs/, U.S. /ˈvoʊk(ə)lnəs/ The quality or fact of being vocal (in various senses); (now) esp. the quality of uttering or expressing one's views or opinions freely, loudly, or vehemently; vociferousness, outspokenness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or shout (loudness) > [noun] > quality
vocalness1660
vociferousness1756
vociferosity1837
vociferance1905
vocality1941
1660 W. Towers Obed. due to Kings sig. A2 Nothing but the zealous Vocalnesse could have held my eyes waking.
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Vocalness, a vocal Quality.
1828 Casket Sept. 426/1 Vocalness harmoniously enchanting as the melodies of Arion, optics more admirable than the diamond that glares upon their ornaments.
1907 Musical Courier (N.Y.) 27 Mar. 15/3 There is scarcely a professor..who does not continually use them [sc. Willeby's songs] in their class, owing to their great ‘vocalness’ and the scope which they afford for instruction.
1922 Pittsburg (Kansas) Daily Headlight 13 Apr. 10/2 While only a few delegates rose to vote for the Gaitskill substitute, a considerable number refrained from voting at all, the vocalness of the Ryan-Howe delegates having made clear that they were in control by a large margin.
2017 Irish Independent (Nexis) 7 Sept. 33 I do salute her vigilance—and vocalness—in calling out the perceived mistakes of others.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1660