loosenessn.
/ˈluːsnəs/, U.S. /ˈlusnəs/ The attribute of being loose.
1. Freedom from restraint, attachment, rigid connection, tightness, or density. literal, transferred, and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [noun] > lack of tension or slackness
slackness1398
loosenessc1400
the world > matter > constitution of matter > lack of density > [noun] > loose texture
looseness1562
laxity1603
fuzziness1613
laxness1718
incompactness1727
foziness1821
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [noun] > freedom from confinement
looseness1587
unconfinedness1673
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > fabrication of statement or story > a false or foolish tale > [noun] > a fable, myth > vagueness, flexibility of
looseness1889
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 64 Þe enchesoun of cause coniuncte is compounned of þe mouþis of þe veynes and arteries,..or ellis to greet febilnes or to greet losenes.
1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Eng. f. 8v, in 2nd Pt. Herball They are good for the lousnes and to muche sofftnes of the pappes.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xiii. 223 After that maner therefore may we wade..betweene Loocenesse and Bondage by leauing their mouings free.
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. 92 Hold vp his head, so as by no meanes hee may..win it to such a loosnesse from the riders hand, that [etc.].
1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 34 Loosenesse of teeth.
1656 A. Cowley Davideis iii. 98 in Poems Not all that Saul could threaten or perswade, In this close knot the smallest looseness made.
1675 A. Browne Ars Pictoria (ed. 2) App. 20 The third thing Excellent in a Good Draught is Loosness, that is, that the Body be not made Stiff in any part.
1889 J. M. Robertson Christ & Krishna xvii. 107 The looseness and flexibility of the materials of which the cumbrous mythology of the Hindu epic poems is composed.
2.
a. Lack of strictness; laxity of principles or practice.
ΚΠ
1585 C. Fetherston tr. J. Calvin Comm. Actes Apostles xviii. 17 This loosenesse must bee imputed not so much to the sluggishnes of the deputie as to the hatred of the Iewish religion.
a1639 W. Whately Prototypes (1640) i. xix. 191 They know how to tie others hard and leave themselves loose, through the loosenesse of an evill conscience.
a1665 J. Goodwin Πλήρωμα τὸ Πνευματικόv (1670) xix. 524 Any looseness, or lightness of spirit.
1723 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 58 The Non-subscribing principle has a natural and necessary tendency to looseness and the opening a door for error.
1855 N.Y. Express Sept. The perfect looseness, with which books not on the invoice were sold [at auction].
1878 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. Eng. 18th Cent. II. vii. 290 The greater looseness of their principles.
1891 Daily News 28 Oct. 2/3 It is confessed by members of the Stock Exchange that their methods of dealing sometimes encourage a certain amount of looseness.
b. Lack of exactness or accuracy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > inaccuracy, inexactness > [noun]
wrongc1620
obliquity1646
untrueness1652
unaccurateness1659
inaccuracy1671
unexactness1677
unaccuracy1702
wrongness1726
looseness1769
inexactitude1786
imprecision1803
inexactness1828
impreciseness1907
1769 E. Burke Observ. Late State Nation 31 The looseness and inaccuracy of the export entries.
1797 W. Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 42 Misunderstandings..may be traced to..looseness of expression.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. Pref. p. vii The looseness of the drawing..may perhaps diminish their credit.
1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma v. 138 The incurable looseness with which the circumstances of what is called and thought a miracle are related.
1885 Sir A. Wills in Law Times Rep. 52 518/1 Throughout the Act there is not the smallest indication of looseness of phraseology.
3. Moral laxity; licentiousness or lewdness in conduct, speech, or thought.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [noun]
goleshipc1000
golenessa1050
kaggerleȝcc1175
untowenshipa1250
follyc1300
wantonnessc1390
ragerya1393
nicetya1400
wantonhead1435
lightnessa1450
gole?a1500
free will?1518
nicenessa1533
looseness1576
licentiousness1586
waggishness1591
libertinage1611
libertinism1611
licence1713
fastness1859
permissiveness1946
1576 J. Woolton Christian Man. sig. H.vv Nature hath mingled pleasure, with thinges necessarye... If pleasure come alone, it is lousnesse.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 25 This chastitie may be seduced in processe of tyme to loosenesse.
1599 R. Crompton Mansion Magnanimitie sig. N4v The said noble Earles..knowing the loosenesse of soldiers,..caused the Ladies..to be safely conueyed out of the Citie.
1693–4 A. Wood Life 3 Mar. He told him that such a College in Oxford was a debauch'd college, that they were all given to loosness.
1713 H. Felton Diss. Reading Classics 35 The Looseness of his Thoughts too immodest for chaste Ears to bear.
1868 H. H. Milman Ann. St. Paul's Cathedral 302 Looseness too often sinking into obscenity.
1900 W. M. Sinclair Unto You Young Men x. 187 Scenes of luxury or looseness.
4. Laxity (of the bowels), esp. as a morbid symptom; diarrhoea; †an attack of diarrhoea.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > excretory disorders > [noun] > diarrhoea
diarrhoea1398
squirtc1460
hurl?a1513
gurry?1523
lasking1527
laxity1528
lax?1529
lask1542
skittera1585
looseness1586
scouring1597
laxativeness1610
laxness1634
squitter1664
lurry1689
thorough-go-nimble1694
wherry-go-nimble1766
the trots1808
cholerine1832
squit1841
choleriform1884
tummy1888
gippy tummy1915
shit1928
Rhea sisters1935
belly wuk1943
tomtit1944
run1946
Montezuma's revenge1955
Aztec hop1962
turista1970
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > excretory disorders > [noun] > diarrhoea > attack of
squirt1611
looseness1714
1586 T. Randolph in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. III. 121 He fell into a greate losenes of his bodye.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xv. 97 For the loosenes of the belly, some make them meate of the husks of barlie steept in wine.
1663 R. Boyle Some Considerations Usefulnesse Exper. Nat. Philos. ii. v. xi. 232 If rubarb be justly affirmed to be an excellent medicine in loosenesses.
1714 J. Purcell Treat. Cholick 163 The Pains grew violent, and a great Looseness succeeded.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved xxv. 370 In Diarrhœa's or Loosenesses.
1755 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 28/1 His looseness encreased to a great excess, which brought on much weakness.
1760 T. Gray Let. 12 Aug. in Corr. (1971) II. 693 A violent looseness carried him off.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 242 A certain looseness of the bowels..is a common symptom of the disease [i.e. of whooping-cough].
1898 P. Manson Trop. Dis. xvii. 271 The preliminary looseness in such cases [of cholera] is called the ‘premonitory diarrhœa’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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