gayness
/ˈɡeɪnəs
/noun [mass noun]
1Homosexuality: kids who are comfortable with their gayness...
- For some time now, men have been moving away from the old stereotype of gayness.
- I shouldn't have to defend my gayness in a gay magazine.
- From those early years, I remember no signs by which I could have clearly read my gayness or anyone else's.
2 dated The state or quality of being light-hearted and carefree: the gayness of his voice suddenly departed...
- Polly's bright gayness of spirit once more flagged as she noted the cloud on her father's face.
- One night toward the first of January he bounded up the stairs with more than his usual gayness and grabbed me in his arms.
- The smile and her gayness were meant to ease the child out of her distressed mood.
3 dated Brightness of colour; showiness: the injured man looked ghastly in contrast to the gayness of his surroundings...
- Both are among the most beautiful climbing plants for the summer greenhouse, their large clusters of deep yellow flowers giving a gayness to the whole collection.
- The green-flowered dress and the garland signify the gayness of the fields.
- She was alone, so far, in her large Louis XVI drawing room, the bronzes and brocades of which had a bright gayness.
