Also 7 solennesse, sulliness, 8 sulleness. [f. SULLEN a. + -NESS.]
1. The condition or quality of being sullen in behavior, aspect or temper. Also, an instance of this.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. (1912), 379. Fearing least silence would offend her sullennes.
1644. Milton, Educ., Wks. 1851, IV. 392. When the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to go out.
1663. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxxii. (1687), 399. His seriousness gives no disgust, his silence is without sullenness.
a. 1721. Prior, Cromwell & his Porter, 20, Wks. 1907, II. 262. By … the sulleness of his brow it should be my old Porter.
1784. Cook’s 3rd Voy., I. viii. I. 154. The countenance … has … sometimes a sullenness or reserve.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, iii. They are … a mixed breed, having much of your German sullenness.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xiv. 205. After a few vicious efforts, they subsided into sullenness.
† 2. Slowness, reluctance. Obs.
1619. Lushington, Resurrection, I. (1659), 34. No removing of the Tombestone; that besides its weight & sullenness to give way, was rib’d and clasped down with Iron barrs and bonds.
3. Dismalness, gloom.
1885. Pater, Marius, IV. xxiii. The long winter had been a season of unvarying sullenness.
