unmovablenessn.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈmuːvəblnəs/, U.S. /ˌənˈmuvəb(ə)lnəs/ The quality of not being movable (in various senses); immobility, fixedness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > [noun] > state or quality of being immovable
immovabilityc1374
unmovablenessc1384
unmovabletya1400
unmobletya1425
immovableness1617
movelessness1667
stuckness1960
the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > [noun]
steadfastnessa1000
anrednessOE
stead-stathelfastness?c1225
stability13..
steadfastshipc1320
traistnessa1340
constance1340
sadnessc1384
unmovablenessc1384
hardnessa1400
steadfastheadc1400
unmobletya1425
firmitya1450
constancy1526
constantness1530
firmitude?1541
firmness1553
stoutness1561
settledness1571
cleaving1580
solidity1607
immovableness1617
staunchness1623
fixedness1626
fixationa1631
unswayednessa1656
steadiness1663
sturdiness1675
unbendingness1824
indomitability1851
indomitableness1860
thick and thin1884
fixity1885
unshakability1907
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [noun]
obstination?1387
pertinacyc1390
obstinacya1393
thronessa1400
stubbornnessc1440
obstinance?a1475
durenessc1480
pertinacity?1504
stomacha1513
stiffness1526
tenacity1526
persistence1546
obstacleness1548
obstinateness1561
stiffneckedness1570
self-mindedness1574
intractability1579
persistency1600
obstinancy1614
contumacy1619
stomachfulness1621
tenaciousness1642
pertinaciousness1651
irresignation1657
peremptoriness1747
mulishness1763
strongheadedness1793
dourness1794
unmovableness1818
stoutheartedness1826
bullet-headednessa1849
stalwartism1879
camelishness1883
thick and thin1884
stupidity1886
jusqu'auboutisme1917
die-hardism1922
obstinative-
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Heb. vi. 17 God willinge for to schewe..the vnmouablenesse [L. inmobilitatem], or sadnesse, of his conseil.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. vi. xxiv. 331 Slepe is a kyndeliche vnmeuablenesse and help of þe wittis.
1598 F. Meres Palladis Tamia 296 As a shadow prouoketh sleep, and that by reason of the coolnesse: so couetousnes induceth sleepe, that is, profoundnesse, and vnmoueablenesse in sinne.
1629 H. Burton Truth's Triumph 264 A most stedfast vnmoueablenesse of faith.
1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa IV. ii. vi. 550 She..by that Posture, & hir unmoveableness in it, by degrees took root.
1741 J. B. de Freval tr. N. A. Pluche Revisal 35 in tr. N. A. Pluche Hist. Heavens (ed. 2) II The unmoveableness of the present sea, which has not changed its situation in the least for these four thousand years.
1818 A. Ranken Hist. France IV. 43 This unmoveablenesse was not the effect of pride.
1885 In Memoriam: J. L. Aikman 38 He was..surefooted with a central unmovableness.
1922 N. W. Stephenson Lincoln vii. 66 Few things show more plainly the central unmovableness of his character than his immunity to the lures of jury speaking.
2002 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 9 Nov. 4 Whatever prejudice there was remained concealed by the FO's unmoveableness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1384