† evenlinessn.
Obsolete.
1. = evenness n. (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > [noun]
evenlinesseOE
evennesseOE
plainnessc1330
flatnessc1440
level1594
levelness1787
planity1803
planeness1858
planarity1956
the world > relative properties > relationship > uniformity > [noun]
evenlinesseOE
evennessa1398
equality1398
uniformity?a1475
equalness1545
uniformness1579
coherence1588
constancy1593
identity1611
oneness1611
holdinga1616
homogeneity1625
homogeny1626
unity1638
equiformity1646
self-consistencya1652
invariableness1654
homogeneousness1658
univocacy1658
sameness1743
consistency1787
self-similarity1847
consistence1850
flushnessa1878
homogenization1938
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 123 Hie healdað ma geferrædenne & efnlicnesse ðonne ealdordom [L. plus aequalitas quam disciplina] wið ða yfelan & ða unryhtwisan.
lOE Canterbury Psalter cxviii. 144 Equitas testimonia tua in aeternum : emlicnes gewitnesse þin on ecnesse.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Knychthede (1993) vii. 46 Humilitee and fortitude ar twa vertues yat lufis evynlynes.
1505 in J. Robertson Illustr. Topogr. & Antiq. Aberdeen & Banff (1847) II. 404 In speciall tuiching the evenlynes to be had betuix the said William Keith and his sister.
a1732 T. Boston Christian Life Delineated (1775) 180 Now this imports..An evenliness in religion, in opposition to a detestable unequalness.
1799 New London Rev. May 494 The fingers of the native spinners and weavers of Hindostan are said to acquire..a delicacy of sensation that will produce a fineness and evenliness of thread..which our most exquisite machinery cannot equal.
1855 Trans. Highland & Agric. Soc. July 1853–Mar.1855 112 The evenliness with which it was depastured..indicated how highly it was relished.
1886 W. M. Taylor Joseph the Prime-minister vii. 93 The power of faith in God is manifested by the evenliness of disposition which it enables the believer to maintain alike in trouble and in joy.
1916 in H. Maxwell-Lefroy Rep. Silk Industry India (1917) III. 129 In appearance it is good and looks a nice silk... As to the evenliness—it contains a number of very fine ends, which would be fatal to the silk being used as warp.
2. Appropriateness, suitability. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [noun]
covenablenessa1382
covenabletec1384
propertya1387
abilitya1398
congruencec1430
conveniencec1430
meetnessc1449
congruencya1513
conveniency1526
congruity1530
familiarity1551
suitableness1594
familiarnessa1617
idoneity1617
connaturalnessa1628
suitability1648
adequateness1650
adaptness1657
competibilitya1660
accommodateness1660
adaptation1663
adaptedness1673
evenliness1674
condecence1678
decorousness1678
feating1682
resemblance1715
idoneousness1727
appropriateness1731
favourableness1775
adaptitude1806
adaptment1831
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 8 If we do but allow God to deal with us..in wayes bearing an evenliness with our kind.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.eOE