† dirityn.
Obsolete. rare.
Direness, dreadfulness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [noun]
dreadnessa1175
ferdfulness1398
dreadfulnessc1440
terribility?1473
terrora1500
terriblenessa1533
diritya1600
direness1605
direfulnessa1656
dire1660
terrificness1727
tremendousness1727
fearsomeness1891
terribilità1923
terrifyingness1930
a1600 R. Hooker Learned Serm. Pride in Wks. (1841) III. 637 So unappeasable is the rigour and dirity of his corrective justice.
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. Diritie, crueltie, fiercenesse.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Dirity, cruelty, terribleness.
1721–1800 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.a1600