designfulnessn.
/dᵻˈzʌɪnf(ᵿ)lnəs/, U.S. /dəˈzaɪnf(ə)lnəs/, /diˈzaɪnf(ə)lnəs/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > contrivance or machination
artc1300
enginec1300
compassc1320
governaila1382
subtletya1393
imaginement1543
machinationc1550
stratagem1561
designing1566
packing1587
Machiavellism1592
design1594
drifting1602
Machiavellianism1607
artifice1618
reach1641
contrivance1647
intrigue1668
designfulnessa1677
engineering1716
manoeuvring1786
scheme1790
intriguery1815
intriguing1841
footwork1902
game playing1916
a1677 I. Barrow Wks. (1683) II. 108 Drawn over with..features of base designfulness, and malicious cunning.
2. The quality or state of being planned, intentional, or prearranged; characterized by design (sense 5).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > [noun] > fact of being intended
advisementa1398
intentionality1611
studiedness1656
propenseness1672
intendedness1800
designedness1801
designfulness1867
wilfulness1876
directedness1922
the mind > will > intention > planning > [noun] > premeditation
aforethoughta1400
forethoughta1400
premeditation?a1475
designment1570
preconsideration1593
predeliberationa1631
fore-plot1641
premeditatedness1659
design1665
precausation1670
contrivance1695
preconfiguration1830
precontrivance1832
designfulness1867
1867 J. H. Stirling tr. A. Schwegler Handbk. Hist. Philos. xliii. 297 If..all conscious action is designful, coalescence on its part with unconscious action is only possible in what, being designful in itself, has been without designfulness produced [Ger. das zweckmäßig ist, ohne zweckmäßig hervorgebracht zu sein].
1890 J. H. Stirling Gifford Lect. v. 94 The designfulness is but contingent.
1972 Isis 61 32 The stable system of the earth, revealed by geology, shows its designfulness precisely by virtue of its stability.
1982 Brit. Jrnl. Hist. Sci. 15 49 Natural theology, through the argument from design, provided..a way of understanding the designfulness of nature.
2006 P. Dear Intelligibility of Nature iv. 106 [Natural selection, which] Darwin has proposed as a way of giving a natural explanation for the apparent designfulness of organic things.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1677