[f. CLOUDY + -NESS.] State or quality of being cloudy, in various senses.
1. lit. and transf. (see CLOUDY 2, 3, 4).
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., I. Divers New Exp., 56. The steines, filth, and clowdinesse that maketh them … so darksome.
1610. Markham, Masterp., I. xiv. 39. Cloudinesse of the vrine.
1668. D. Smith, Voy. Constantinople, in Misc. Cur. (1703), III. 7. The Rock of Lisbon … was scarce discernible by reason of the cloudiness of the Weather.
1805. W. Saunders, Min. Waters, 340. Prussiat of potash instantly produced a blue cloudiness.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. 282. The day seemed changed to cloudiness and rain.
2. fig. (see CLOUDY 5, 6.)
a. 1600. Hooker, Serm. Pride (1617), 77. When they are able to appale with the cloudinesse of their looke.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. (1843), 61/2. Cloudiness … and trouble in his countenance.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Wks. 1816, X. 22. Scholastick cloudiness still hung about him.
1837. Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. iii. § 25. The cloudiness of his expression increases as we proceed.
