[-NESS.]
† 1. The condition of being wearied; liability to become wearied. a. Fatigue, exhaustion from effort or pain; liability to be easily fatigued. b. Tedium, ennui; weariness of something uncongenial or uninteresting. Obs.
a. 1560. trans. J. Fisher’s Godly Treat. Benef. Prayer, G 4. Excepte eyther the great weerysomenes of our bodyes, or some other lyke necessitie inforce vs.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, IV. x. 643. The fresh leaues … being put vnder the naked soles of the feete, they greatly take awaie their wearisomnes, which by far walking haue wearied themselues.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. ii. 17 (1655), 240. Sundry infirmities of body, as hunger, thirst, cold, wearisomnesse.
1672. T. Venn, Milit. Observ., 184. But if the wind blow still, or there is a weakness or wearisomness in the Ensign-bearer, then he may set the butt end against his waste and not otherwise.
a. 1768. Secker, Serm. (1770), III. 270. For in his Turn, every one must expect to be in a State of Wearisomeness and Pain, of Weakness and Danger.
1780. Ann. Reg., 1. A kind of languor and wearisomeness.
b. 1557. Phaër, Æneid, V. L 4 b, Argt. The Troiane wyues, at the instigation of the Raynbow, and for wearysomnesse of theyr longe trauayle: cast fier amonge the fleet.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 37. Such a witte, as is … diligent in painfull thinges without werisomnes.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, II. (1625), 109. Scanderbeg declaring his wearisomenes of captivitie … desired to visit his kingdome.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 46. 266. That wearisomness which is taxed in the Iewes that said, when will the New-Moones and Sabbaths be gone?
1643. Milton, Divorce, Pref. 2. Yet they shall … be made, spight of antipathy to fadge together, and combine as they may to their unspeakable wearisomnes & despaire of all sociable delight in the ordinance which [etc.].
1822. [Mary A. Kelty], Osmond, I. 289. Their wearisomeness of Osmond’s stupidity.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., II. 119. Where there is no variety, and where wearisomeness as naturally follows.
1840. Pusey, in Liddon, Life (1893), II. xxiv. 156. I should have been afraid of the casting lots, lest it should arise from a wearisomeness of indecision, instead of waiting patiently for the time when He would enable one to decide according to His will.
2. The quality or fact of causing weariness; tendency to weary. a. Aptness to cause fatigue. b. Tediousness.
a. 1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 254. The commoditie is answearable in proportion and measure, to the wearisomnesse of the labour.
1671. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. 261. Amidst the joltings of the Waggon, the trouble and wearisomness of the journey, they kept their Prayer, as in the Quire.
1843. Poe, Tales, Pit & Pendulum. As if those who bore me … had paused from the wearisomeness of their toil.
b. 1579. Twyne, Petrarch’s Phisicke agst. Fortune, I. 109 b. Ioy. The ayre is very cleere, I would it might not be changed. Reason. Thou knowest not how soone this cleerenes wil bring weerisomnesse: There is nothing so pleasant which continuall frequentyng the same maketh not loathsome.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 5. The Ambassadours endeavour’d to abate the wearisomenesse of our stay there, by banquets, hunting matches, and walking.
1879. Hingston, Austral. Abr., vii. 71. A great sameness about it was soon, however, observable, producing even the usual effect of monotony—wearisomeness.
1886. Manch. Exam., 27 Jan., 3/2. A second article … which has, notwithstanding these good qualities, just a suspicion of wearisomeness.
† 3. Loathing (for food). Obs.–1
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 346. Evell which causeth such a fulsomenesse and wearisomenesse in Gods stomacke.
