Dictionary

loathsomeness en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English lothsomnesse, loþsumnes, lathsumnes; equivalent to loathsome + -ness.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The nature or property that gives rise to revulsion or inspires loathing.
   • For my part I would rather counſell you to deſtroy your Rattes and Miſe with Traps, Banes, or Weeſels: for beſides the ſluttiſhneſſe ⁊ lothſomeneſſe of the Catte (you know what ſhe layes in the Malt heape) ſhe is moſt daungerous and pernicious among children, as I mee ſelf haue had good experience. 1577, Conradus Heresbachius [i.e., Konrad Heresbach], compiler, “The Third Booke, of Feeding, Breeding, and Curing of Cattell”, in Barnabe Googe, transl., Fovre Bookes of Husbandry, […]: Conteyning the Whole Arte and Trade of Husbandry, with the Antiquitie, and Commendation thereof. […], London: […] Richard Watkins, →OCLC, folio 156, verso:
   • Must putrefaction's breath / Leave nothing of this heavenly sight / But loathsomeness and ruin? 1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Canto I”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 2:
2. (countable) A loathsome thing.
   • H. P. Lovecraft After it raced the naked, tittering, phosphorescent thing that belonged on the carven pedestal, and still farther behind panted the dark men, and all the dread crew of sentient loathsomenesses. The corpse was gaining on its pursuers …

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