[-NESS.]
1. The quality of being strange, foreign, unfamiliar, uncommon, unusual, extraordinary, etc. (see the adj.).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 340. That precious clothyng is cowpable … for his strangenesse and degisynesse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 479/1. Strawngenesse, extraneitas.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xviii. For the straungenesse of it, I will reherce a notable historie.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 37 b. You must geue them but little at once, lest the strangenesse of the foode [L. novitas pabuli] hurt them.
1612. Bacon, Ess., Beauty (Arb.), 210. There is no excellent beauty, that hath not some strangenesse in the proportions.
1638. Wilkins, Discov. World in Moon, I. i. The strangenesse of this opinion is no sufficient reason why it should be rejected.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 567. Novelty is different from strangeness; one is engaging, the other unpleasant.
1847. G. P. R. James, Convict, iii. The first strangeness of new arrival wore off with the two guests.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. xvii. 316. There is a strangeness about the place which repels you.
1861. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 152. This did not tend to cheer the strangeness I felt.
1885. Manch. Exam., 20 March, 4/7. Witnesses … declared that her strangeness of manner was subsequent to the marriage.
b. quasi-concr. With pl.: Something strange; a strange circumstance, object, event, or the like. † Without pl.: Strange matter, strange stuff.
a. 1566. R. Edwards, Damon & Pithias (facs.), B iv. Some strangenesse there is, that breedeth this musinge.
1568. Hacket, trans. Thevet’s New found World, xxii. 36. Certaine others being ignorant doe write yet more strangenesse.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. xxi. 186. For that it is rare and extraordinarie to see a Countrie where it never raines nor thunders; men desire naturally to know the cause of this strangenes.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Serm., I. vii. 83. New accidents and strangenesses of Providence.
1804. Coleridge, Lit. Rem. (1836), II. 414. Fond of the curious, and a hunter of oddities and strangenesses.
1883. Abp. Benson, in Standard, 28 June, 2/3. All their teaching would have a substantial basis and staple, instead of excitement and strangenesses, which ended where they began.
† 2. Absence of friendly feeling or relations; discouraging or uncomplying attitude towards others; coldness, aloofness. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Shipm. T., 386. Ye han maad a manere straungenesse Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3611. No straungenesse was in him sene, No more than he ne had wrathed bene.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. xix. 242. Allas faire lady … I haue not deserued that ye shold shewe me this straungenes.
1540–1. Elyot, Image Gov. (1556), 25 b. Changyng affabilitee into straungenesse and stately countenance.
1575. Turberv., Falconrie, 129. Vntill … shee be familiar with the man without any straungenesse or coynesse.
1607. Chapman, Bussy d’Ambois, II. ii. 192. Alas, I fear my strangeness will retire him.
1669. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 452. The King here lives at so much distance and strangeness with me.
1718. Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, I. viii. 30. Some strangeness had … intervened betwixt him and his Old Friends.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 194, ¶ 2. He practises the stare of strangeness, and the smile of condescension.
1766. C. Beatty, Tour (1768), 47. All anger and strangeness of mind might be for ever done away.
† b. To make strangeness: to show oneself unfriendly or uncomplying. Obs.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 4829. Ther was no wight that sayde nay Nor made thoo no straungenesse, For the porter ydelnesse Lete hym in and that in hast.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., V. cxxxiv. (1811), 118. Where straungenesse was made by the ruler of yt hous for the receyte of those relykes, tyll a myracle or dyuyne token there was shewyd.
