Forms: see KIND a.; also 5 kyndynes, kyndinesse. [f. KIND a. + -NESS. (OE. had ʓecyndnys in sense ‘generation, nation’; but the existing word is of later formation.)].
† 1. Kinship; near relationship; natural affection arising from this. Obs.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 228. Bathe kyn and kyndnes he foryhet.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 22. Preamble, The Kyng of Scottis … not regarding the kyndenesse and nigh aliaunce of your Grace.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 39. The engagements of kindness, blood, affinity, and relation.
† 2. Sc. Natural right or title derived from birth or descent; the status of a kindly tenant. Obs.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 221. The nobillis of Britane gaif to Fincormak … all the landis of Westmureland and Cumber. with clame and kindnes thairof perpetually.
1574. in Exch. Rolls Scotl., xx. (1899), 365. Forasmekill as I haif the present possessioun and kyndnes of the landis of Maristoun.
1578. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), III. 112. To sie that the saidis kyndlie tennentes be satisfeit for thair kyndnes.
† 3. Natural inclination, tendency, disposition or aptitude. Obs. rare.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1982. To ken þe to knaw my kyndnes here-eftir Bath my grace & my glori & my grete strenthe. Ibid., 4700. All ȝoure lefing & ȝoure lare, at ȝe so loude prayse, It comis bot of a kyndnes, & of na clene thewys.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 17. Either we want a kindness for the business … or else that we want respect enough for the Author.
b. Good natural quality or aptitude.
1834–43. Southey, Doctor, cxliii. (1848), 367/1. Kindness of disposition in a beast, importing in their language, that it fattens soon.
1875. Encycl. Brit., I. 171/1. A good loaf should have kindness of structure, being neither chaffy, nor flaky, nor crummy, nor sodden.
4. The quality or habit of being kind; kind nature or disposition, or the exhibition of this in action or conduct.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 321. [They] han al kindenes me kyd, & y ne kan hem ȝelde.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xx. 66. Is there in the no drope of kyndenesse?
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 757. The common people, which oftentymes more esteme, and take for great kindnesse a little courtesye then a great benefite.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 52. Na tung sic kyndnes can expres.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. v. 18. Yet doe I feare thy Nature, it is too full o’ th’ Milke of humane kindnesse, To catch the neerest way.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 75, ¶ 10. They … inflict pain where kindness is intended.
1871. Smiles, Charac., viii. (1876), 228. Kindness does not consist in gifts, but in gentleness and generosity of spirit.
b. With a and pl.: An instance of this; a kind act; † a benefaction (obs.).
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 204/157. We ne beoth nouȝt so onkuynde, þat we it nellez ȝelde þe bliue For þe kundenesse þat þov to us come.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 441. The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene kidde me fernȝere.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 435. For þise sixe kyndenessis.
c. 1440. York Myst., xl. 149. I thanke youe of þis kyndinesse ȝe kydde me.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. iii. 171. Do him that kindnesse, and take leaue of him. Ibid. (1608), Timon, III. ii. 22. I haue receyued some small kindnesses from him, as Money, Plate, Iewels.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 460. This Tide, which did us a kindness in setting us through.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., i. (1873), 8. All those numberless kindnesses which a lady with comfortable means and no children is always able to bestow.
† c. A benefit, an advantage. Obs. rare.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Belching is a Kindness to the Person whose Belly is fill’d with Wind, and when he can do it, he always finds some Relief by it.
5. Kind feeling; a feeling of tenderness or fondness; affection, love. Also, Good will, favor, friendship. Const. for († to). Now rare.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 665 (Cleopatra). But herkenyth ȝe that spekyn of kyndenesse … Here may ȝe sen of wemen which a trouthe.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 483. Sum kissis me; sum clappis me; sum kyndnes me proferis.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 126. Hence … the Muscovites love the Greeks, and have a kindnesse for them.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 2 Sept. Sir C. Carteret … tells me he is sure he hath no kindness from the king.
1683. Pennsylv. Archives, I. 59. Unwilling to withdraw my kindness to the General Good.
1709. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Miss Wortley, 21 Aug. It is not in my power … to hide a kindness where I have one.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Milton, Wks. II. 87. He left the university with no kindness for its institution.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag., v. (1860), 112. A lady for whom he had once entertained a sneaking kindness.
† 6. (See quot.) Obs.
a. 1603. Moyses, Mem. (1755), 43. Upon the 25th of June [1580] … the inhabitants of Edinburgh contracted a strange sickness, which was called Kindness.
7. Comb., as kindness-proof adj.
1692. South, 12 Serm. (1697), I. 514. I may truly say of the Mind of an Ungratefull person, that it is Kindness-proof.
