† prestnessn.
Obsolete. rare.
Readiness, preparedness; eagerness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [noun] > state of being prepared or ready
graithc1330
readinessc1350
in promptc1425
areadinessa1500
alreadiness1534
apointc1540
furniture1560
expedition1579
prestness1582
preparedness1590
trim1628
addressedness1633
concert pitch1742
engrenage1918
1582 Ld. Burghley Let. 13 Sept. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. (1827) 2nd Ser. III. 100 I was glad to perceaue your prestnes to enter into Scotland.
1850 in H. C. Fish Hist. & Repository of Pulpit Eloquence 375 When..there followeth a prestness to obey God, the soul is at hand.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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n.1582