outness en · NOUN
Etymology
* out + -ness. ** (philosophy): Possibly coined by George Berkeley for his 1709 Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision ** (sexuality): Popularised by Lynne Pearlman in her 1989 thesis Theorizing Lesbian Oppression and the Politics of Outness in the Case of Waterman v. National Life Assurance.
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The quality of being out, or outside.
The forces which work in and upon organic life know nothing of outness and inness. They shine through the materials which they build up and mould, as light shines through the clearest glass.
1888, The Twentieth Century, volume 23, page 156:
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(uncountable, usually) The collective of things that are distinct from the observer.
From what we have shewn it is a manifest Consequence, that the Ideas of Space, Outness, and things placed at a distance are not strictly speaking, the Object of Sight.
1709, George Berkeley, Towards a New Theory of Vision:
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(uncountable, usually) The property of being distinct.
Distance means degree of outness of one thing from another; but it presupposes outness as a fact and a conception.
2008, John Veitch, Hamilton:
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(uncountable, usually) The extent to which someone, particularly a gay person, is open about their sexuality.
Couples who are discrepant on outness may have conflict around such issues as where to live (e.g. in an obvious gay neighbourhood), whether to bring a partner to work-related social events, and how to introduce their partner to family members.
2008, Debra A. Hope, Contemporary Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identities:If I use my own name to publish pieces which use homosexual themes, this decision forces a certain amount of "outness" upon those who associate with me.
1985 April 13, Charles Henry Fuller, “Learning to Draw my Name”, in Gay Community News, page 9:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| outnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |