dirtiness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English dirty Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English dirtiness From dirty + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The state or quality of being dirty.
So they walked till they came to Claremont and Kumalo was shocked by its shabbiness and dirtiness, and the closeness of the houses, and the filth in the streets.
1948, Alan Paton, chapter 6, in Cry, the Beloved Country, New York: Scribner, published 1987:Paul was distressingly clean, but Babbitt reveled in a good sound dirtiness, in not having to shave till his spirit was moved to it.
1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter XI, in Babbitt, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, section IV, page 150:Dirtiness is inherent in hotels and restaurants, because sound food is sacrificed to punctuality and smartness.
1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XIV, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dirtinesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (10)
ota مردارلق (state or quality of being dirty) · tr kirlilik (state or quality of being dirty) · it sporcizia (state or quality of being dirty) · lv netīrība (state or quality of being dirty) · lv nespodrība (state or quality of being dirty) · ca brutícia (state or quality of being dirty) · fr saleté (state or quality of being dirty) · rgn cacaréra (state or quality of being dirty) · pt sujidade (state or quality of being dirty) · es suciedad (state or quality of being dirty)