gravenessn.
/ˈɡreɪvnɪs/ The quality or state of being grave; seriousness, solemnity and sobriety of behaviour; gravity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [noun]
earnestOE
sadnessc1350
serious1440
seriouste1440
demurity1483
seriosity?a1505
gravity1509
demureness?1518
seriousness1530
solemness1530
sobriety1548
staidness1561
graveness1577
gravidad1641
earnestness1670
substantialness1683
solemnity1712
smilelessness1844
unsmilingness1873
humourlessness1890
straightfacedness1982
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 26/1 in Chron. I Grauenesse in countnaunce, and shew of apparell.
1606 J. Marston Parasitaster iii, in Wks. (1856) II. 62 Your once steady gravenes.
1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick i. vii. 29 Graveness of actions.
1719 T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth II. 318 A Graveness palls the Cupid.
1865 T. Wright Hist. Caricature & Grotesque viii. 138 The graveness and air of importance with which he regards it, would lead us to suppose that the barrel contains wine.
1875 Ld. Tennyson Queen Mary v. ii. 254 Had put off levity and put graveness on.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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