woefulnessn.
/ˈwəʊf(ᵿ)lnəs/, U.S. /ˈwoʊfəlnəs/ 1. A state or condition of distress, sorrow, or misfortune; misery, wretchedness; sadness. Also: the quality of expressing or causing woe.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > misery > [noun]
unselthc888
ermtheOE
unselea1023
wellawayOE
wretchhead1154
wandrethc1175
woec1175
wanea1200
wretchdom?c1225
yomernessc1250
balec1275
un-i-selec1275
wan-siðc1275
unseelinessa1300
wretchedheada1300
cursedness1303
wretcheddomc1320
wrechea1325
wretchnessa1330
tribulationc1330
wretchednessa1340
caitifty1340
meeknessa1382
unwealsomeness1382
infelicityc1384
caitifhedea1400
ill liking?a1400
sorea1400
ungleea1400
unweala1400
caitifnessc1400
deploration1490
caitifdoma1500
woefulnessa1513
misery1527
miserity1533
mishappinessa1542
unwealfulnessa1555
tribulance1575
miserableness1613
agony1621
desolatenessa1626
unblissa1628
unhappiness1722
misère1791
shadow1855
valley1882
miz1918
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction > state of misery
wretchhead1154
uselldomc1175
wretchdom?c1225
yomernessc1250
wan-siðc1275
werea1300
wretchedheada1300
cursedness1303
wrechea1325
wretchnessa1330
wretchednessa1340
caitifty1340
miseryc1375
caitifhedea1400
languora1400
caitifnessc1400
deploration1490
caitifdoma1500
pitya1500
unkindness1502
woefulnessa1513
miserability1559
villainya1571
ungraciousness1578
miserableness1613
deplorableness1649
misère1791
dismals1829
unblessedness1836
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xxix. sig. k.iiii O dredefull dethe..Takynge our heed from vs..Hath brought vs to thraldome, wofulnes and peyne.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Ii6 The harte stuffed vp with wofulnes.
1604 tr. St. Cyprian in T. Bilson Suruey Christs Sufferings 140 This wofulnesse no man euer escaped.
1686 G. Stuart Joco-serious Disc. 2 Their waedeum [margin Wofulness] seem'd vanish't.
1755 C. Charke Narr. Life 142 The Woefulness of my Countenance at the horrid View.
1790 T. Powell Edgar & Elfrida iv. 76 He is mute, and looks upon the ground In sullen woefulness.
1828 E. Irving Serm., Lect., & Occas. Disc. III. ii. 850 Jew and Gentile..can appropriate the same language of present woefulness and future hopefulness.
1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason xvii. 355 He..muttered low for fear and woefulness.
1916 Texas Rev. 1 195 Then, too, there is the woefulness of love.
1984 C. Blackwood Corrigan viii. 123 This letter..lacked any of the woefulness that was usually so oppressive to her.
2009 T. Carney Baseball Player 143 While Henry tried to puzzle out the ‘favor’ reference, Ray capsized into woefulness.
2. Originally: the quality or state of being bad or deserving condemnation. Later usually (in weakened use) lamentableness, awfulness, inadequacy.rare between the 17th and 20th centuries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [noun] > for the needs of the case or inadequacy
poornessa1382
unsatisfactoriness1643
unsatisfaction1645
woefulness1658
inadequateness1681
inadequacy1786
1658 T. Pierce Αυτοκατάκρισις: Self-condemnation 52 Mr. W. asks..why may we not interpret..Scriptures in the like manner... [I have] shewed him the wofulness of his Question by an Argument ad hominem.
1667 Naphtali 85 We proceed to lay forth the Sinfulness and Wofulness of this Defection.
1940 San Antonio (Texas) Light 23 Mar. 7/3 There are three things you discover in watching him [sc. a boxer] work, despite the woefulness of what passes as his sparmates.
1982 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 6 Nov. What a heck of a time to wail a plaint about the chronic woefulness of the Toronto Argonauts.
1984 Financial Times 24 Mar. (Survey section) 1/6 [They are] frustrated..at the woefulness of the [Italian] public administration.
2003 Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, Va.) 3 Apr. 6/1 Nationally, there are occasional news stories reflecting the woefulness of some schools.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.a1513