oafishnessn.
/ˈəʊfᵻʃnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈoʊfᵻʃnᵻs/ The state or condition of being oafish; awkwardness, stupidity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > clumsy stupidity, oafishness > [noun]
clownagea1637
oafishness1727
étourderie1763
oafdom1868
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Oafishness, foolishness.
1890 Sat. Rev. 19 Apr. 475/1 The whole is ruined by the oafishness of Stockmann.
1974 R. Adams Shardik xxiv. 193 Their bodies scarcely cover their minds with propriety. Their oafishness is indecently exposed.
1998 Canad. Geographic May 82/1 For years, ‘Neanderthal’ has served as a handy insult, a suggestion of oafishness and dimwittedness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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