pertnessn.
/ˈpəːtnəs/, U.S. /ˈpərtnəs/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > specifically of humans
fairnessOE
beautya1350
looksc1400
pertnessc1450
well-favouredness1545
thews1567
good looks1591
bonniness1603
good-lookingness1828
c1450 (a1425) Metrical Paraphr. Old Test. (Selden) 1552 (MED) Hys pertenes he toght forto proue.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 9205 The maiden..passes of pertnes pure wemen all.
2. Forwardness or audacity in behaviour or speech; smartness bordering upon impudence; cheekiness, esp. in young people, or others viewed as inferior in rank or status.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [noun] > pertness or brashness
sauciness1534
pertness1573
puppyism1776
sauce1786
puppyhood1849
puppydom1855
puppyishness1879
freshness1880
brashness1883
whipper-snapping1925
1573 T. Twyne tr. Virgil in T. Phaer & T. Twyne tr. Virgil Whole .xii. Bks. Æneidos xii. Mm j This peartnes Phegeus might not bide, nor pride of stomack bold.
a1658 J. Durham Expos. Rev. (1860) ii. iii. 67 A symptom of that peartnesse and impudencie.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela xxiv Provided she humble herself,..and is sorry for her pertness.
1773 H. Chapone Lett. Improvem. Mind II. 103 Nothing is so disgusting in youth as pertness and self-conceit.
1881 J. Ruskin Love's Meinie I. iii. §82. 86 [The parrot] is mostly gay in plumage, often to vulgarity, and always to pertness.
1939 L. P. Smith Unforgotten Years iv. 118 Henry..indignantly protested against the outrageous pertness of the American child.
1989 J. Barnes Hist. World in 10½ Chapters vi. 146 Colonel Fergusson nodded indulgently at such pertness and obstinacy.
1999 Shakespeare Q. 50 495 The provocative pertness of the youngest daughter thus appears less shocking there.
3. Briskness, liveliness. In early use also: confidence; boldness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness
businessa1398
activitya1425
activeness1513
pertness1575
whirry1622
smartness1644
brisknessa1655
alertness1816
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 18 Ane spark of peirtnes in his breist than grew.
1616 H. Charteris & W. Arthur in R. Rollock Lect. Hist. Passion Ep. Ded. sig. ¶3v He..was dumbe before the earthly Iudje that thou..might have boldnesse and peartnesse in thy prayers.
1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. v. 82 There is indeed amongst them a lively Pertness, a Parade of Literature.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Peartness, liveliness.
1885 C. F. Holder Marvels Animal Life 224 That kinder tuck the peartness aout of us, so to speak.
1987 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 14 June ii. 28/1 One [concerto] attributed to Boccherini (which has little of his usual pertness and melodic freshness).
2003 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 14 July 87 Her friend, played with effervescent pertness by Brigitte Bardot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun] > pungency
peppera1425
tangc1440
mordacity1583
heat1586
saltness1612
piquantness1648
quickness1652
subtilty1661
penetratingness1662
pungency1663
piquancy1664
poignancy1677
mordicancy1693
pertness1756
causticity1772
poignance1782
pungence1810
warmth1816
piquance1867
zinginess1938
1756 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 572/2 The Holy Well [at Malvern] drank on the spot leaves a pertness in the throat approaching the taste of brass or allum.
1780 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal iii. iii. 35 Spa water..has all the pertness of Champaigne, without its spirit.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.c1450