shiftiness en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English shifty 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 shiftiness From shifty + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable) The property of being shifty.
Mr. Henderson's chief trouble seems to be that he cannot forget his old shiftiness of views and his pendulum-like swingings between Liberalism and Independent Labourism[…]
1973, Socialist Review, volume 8, page 331:
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(countable, rare) The result or product of being shifty.
I had the grace or humility sometimes to see myself as a mass of shiftinesses; a few dogmas might help to steady me.
1918, Allan Noble Monkhouse, Men and Ghosts, page 73:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| shiftinesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (1)
gv lhoobaght (the property of being shifty)