raggednessn.
/ˈraɡᵻdnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈræɡədnəs/ 1. Roughness, irregularity, or unevenness of surface, edge, or outline; a rough, irregular, or uneven part.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > [noun]
unevenness1398
asperitya1492
ruggedness1530
raggedness1538
grabbedness1565
craggedness1598
implanitude1598
inequality1607
salebrosity1638
salebrity1656
salebrousness1727
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Lamæ, the raggydnesse of rockes.
1566 T. Blundeville True Arte Paring & Shooyng vii. 5 in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The raggednesse on the outside of the coffin woulde be fyled away with a rape, and made smoth.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxxii. x. 448 The grosse pickle sauce called Alex..cureth the raggednesse of nails.
1658 J. Evelyn tr. N. de Bonnefons French Gardiner 71 Pared away the raggednesse which the saw hath left.
1701 J. Brand Brief Descr. Orkney, Zetland viii. 118 Before this Isle lyeth a Rock Raggie On all sides... By reason of its Raggedness and Declivity..it is scarce possible to climb it.
1742 New Way of breeding Canary Birds 20 If you Cut the Raggedness [of a canary's tail feathers] off with a Pair of Scizars, they will remain So, till He Molts.
1869 Proc. Royal Soc. 18 294 The only distinction being a doubtful raggedness of the septal edges.
1882 Harper's Mag. June 8/2 The raggedness of the openings was smoothed with the flaring scarlet brick of the schools.
1907 Science 29 Mar. 509/1 An increase of irregularity and raggedness over that of the initial shore line.
1969 Times 31 July 5/1 The raggedness of the southern polar cap possibly caused by the presence of craters or mountains.
2005 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 27 Apr. 8 Trim off unsightly raggedness with kitchen shears.
2.
a. Of clothing, a person, etc.: ragged state or appearance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > one who wears ragged or tattered clothing > state of
raggedness?1573
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > ragged or tattered > state of
raggery1654
raggedness1859
?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes sig. **ij The Rhodians and the Lacedemonians in the games of Olimpia, were taunted of Diogenes, the one for their brauerie, the other for their raggednesse.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xviii. sig. Ss3 His decking..being cut out into the fashion of very ragges: yet all so dainty, ioyned together with pretious stones, as it was a braue raggednesse.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xi. 28 Your loopt and windowed raggednes . View more context for this quotation
1681 N. Tate King Lear 29 How shall your..raggedness defend you From Seasons such as These.
1728–9 J. Swift Lett. 13 Jan. (1766) III. 275 My raggedness will soon force me away.
1783 W. Beckford Dreams xxvii. 254 I saw nothing in their villages of that singular raggedness and dejection, which, in some other countries, tell a reproachful tale of oppression and bad police.
1816 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. 81 121 That ignoble raggedness with which Aristophanes reproaches this tragedian.
1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow Barn I. xx. 201 Some old buildings, whose raggedness was..rendered painfully public.
1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock (1861) 96 His silk gown is shabby, almost to raggedness.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage xlvi. 226 She wore every day the same ugly brown dress..with the raggedness..still unmended.
1998 Independent (Nexis) 8 Mar. 4 The elegance of the old hotel, the familiar raggedness of the gap-year youths who seem to be the mainstay of its tourism.
b. Of an immaterial thing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [noun] > lack of coherence
raggedness1590
incoherence1611
incoherency1684
inchoateness1976
1590 C. S. Briefe Resol. Right Relig. 32 These painted clothes bewray the raggednesse of their religion.
1616 S. Hieron Dignitie of Preaching (new ed.) in Wks. (1620) I. 586 The more aduised, holding it vp (as it were) against the light, see the rawnesse and raggednesse and independance of that which is deliuered.
1716 B. Jenks Liberty of Prayer Asserted 187 For such indeed is the Raggedness and insufficiency of all our Services, that we extreamly want a Saviour to help us out.
1873 Musical Times 16 267/2 Have not the alterations introduced..in certain parts of a Church service served..only to expose..the loop-holed raggedness of the rest?
1962 O. Pease Progressive Years 7 The frayed raggedness of urban life had always been present but somehow less visible.
3. Of a performance, endeavour, etc.: lack of uniformity, polish, or coordinated precision.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [noun] > variety of form or non-uniformity
deformitya1544
difformity1580
inequability1581
disformity1600
irregularness1609
inconstancy1613
inconformity1625
inequality1626
irregularity1646
nonconformity1672
anomaly1686
disuniformity1710
ununiformness1716
ununiformity1749
heteromorphism1839
non-uniformity1852
raggedness1882
1882 Times 1 May 4/3 It..is a good deal exempt from that raggedness of painting that he so much affects.
1894 Times 4 June 11/5 The most remarkable feature of the shooting was the raggedness of the volleys.
1936 U. M. Ellis-Fermor Jacobean Drama xiv. 279 The flow of sympathy from the auditorium to the stage and back again..overcomes the raggedness..to which repertory playing is liable.
1958 Times 19 Aug. 11/3 Some signs of raggedness among the corps de ballet.
2002 D. Oliphant Early Swing Era iv. 230 The band was not given any alternate takes on its recording sessions, and this could account in part for..the raggedness of some of the playing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1538