Now arch. [f. SOOTHFAST a. + -NESS.]
1. The fact, condition or quality of being soothfast in various senses; truth; truthfulness or veracity. † In soothfastness, in sooth.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter v. 10. Nis in muðe heara soðfestnis.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 1. Þeah bið simle corn þære soðfæstnesse sæd on þære sawle wuniʓende.
971. Blickl. Hom., 17. Drihten sylfa cwæþ ‘Ic eom weʓ soðfæstnesse.’
c. 1200. Ormin, 12920. And tiss iss soþfasstnessess hord Þatt all mannkinn birrþ sekenn.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2339. Ai luued he sothfastnes and right.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 740. But now know I in verray sothfastnesse, That in gret lordschip … Ther is gret servitude.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1199. Salamon yafe counseille, men shulden prey Two thynges unto God, in sothefastnesse.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 393/1. Sende thou in to us … the ghoost of sothfastnesse.
c. 1557. Parker, Ps., K ij. For as the Lorde is just in worde, so loveth he sothfastnes.
1590. Lodge, Euphues Gold. Leg., K 3 b. These … are of power no more, Where beautie leanes to wit and soothfastnesse.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 73. True and full of soothfastnesse.
1881. Rossetti, Ball. & Sonn., 121. For here sit I … In full surrender and soothfastness.
2. With the. Also const. of (a person, statement, etc.).
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 6. Ne fo we no … on ða bispel for ðara leasena spella lufan, ac forðæmðe we woldon mid ʓebecnan þa soðfæstnesse.
971. Blickl. Hom., 55. Se mon se þa soþfastnesse mid his muþe sprecþ.
c. 1055. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 335. Æfter þære soðfæstnysse þe þa iudeisce witan heoldon.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 115. Ðes kingges … sodfestnesse istaþaleð þes folkes stere.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 7. The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes, That schawys the thing rycht as it wes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 209. To telle yow the sothfastnesse of thinges.
c. 1440. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitl. Cl.), I. 249. Þe bischap … askis þat he be distreignyt to schawe his charter for þe suthfastnes to be knawin.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 558. The suithfastnes thairof rycht sone was schawin.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. ii. 6. The soothfastnesse of the Prophesye was shewed there by the ceremony of solemne consecration.
1830. Chambers, Life Jas. I., II. x. 278. The question seemed to hinge on the soothfastness of a chamber maid.
3. Personified.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 409. ʓehieren eac ða … hwæt sio Soðfæsðnes ðurh hie selfe cwæð.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9545. Þe first o þam was cald merci, Þe toþer was hatten sothfastnes.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 186. Þe secounde of þat sire is sothfastnesse, filius.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 17. This douȝter sothfastnesse seith that sche perissheth.
