unforgivingness en · NOUN
Etymology
From unforgiving + -ness.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The quality of being unforgiving.
She knew not how such an offence as hers might be classed by the laws of worldly politeness, to what a degree of unforgivingness it might with propriety lead, nor to what rigours of rudeness in return it might justly make her amenable.
1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:And yet I frankly must confess A secret unforgivingness, And shudder at the saving chrism Whose best New Birth is Pessimism;
1888, James Russell Lowell, “Credidimus Jovem Regnare”, in Heartsease and Rue, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co, page 185:They had spent their entire lives as prisoners in Siberia and they now appealed to the empress for their release. In a rare instance of unforgivingness Elizabeth refused to grant it.
1970, Tamara Talbot Rice, Elizabeth, Empress of Russia, Praeger, page 105:But now they are sufficiently cleared from every imputation of unforgivingness; for, while I appeared to them in the character of a vile hypocrite, pretending to true penitence, yet giving up myself to profligate courses, how could I expect either their pardon or blessing?
1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
Translations (1)
pl bezpardonowość (Translations)