[OE. earfoðnysse: see ARVETH and -NESS.] Difficulty, trouble.

1

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Man. Astron., 19. God … ealle þing ʓediht buton earfoðnysse.

2

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 105. Þider we sculen hihȝen of þissere erfeðnesse.

3

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 223. Þu scealt mid ærfeðnesse þe metes tylian.

4