Also 3–5 clannesse. [OE. clǽnnes: see CLEAN and -NESS.] The quality or state of being clean.
1. lit. Freedom from dirt or filth, purity, clearness. † Cleanness of teeth: scarcity of food.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIII. xiv. (1495), 447. It nedyth clennesse of water.
1480. Caxton, Descr. Brit., 47. The holsomnes & helthe of that londe & the clennes out of venyme [carentia veneni].
1538. Starkey, England, 177. Offycerys to be appoyntyd to have regard of the bewty of the towne and cuntrey, and of the clennes of the same.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Amos iv. 6. Therefore haue I giuen you cleannes of teeth [so 1611 cleannesse; Wyclif, eggyng of teeth; Coverdale, ydle teth] in all your cities.
1600. Abp. Abbot, Exp. Jonah, 365. One yeare there hath bene hunger; the second there was a dearth, and a third … there is great cleannesse of teeth.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. x. § 11. 44. Cleanesse of bodie, was euer esteemed to proceede from a due reuerence to God, to societie, and to our selues.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 37. Destroying our soules with cleannesse of teeth.
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 415. Houses … remarkable … for their order and cleanness.
b. Neatness; purity; elegance; used spec. of literary style.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 29 b. Dalmada is inferiour to you in eloquence and cleanesse of stile.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 116 (J.). Hee shewed no more strength in shaking of his staffe: but to my conceite the fine cleanenesse of bearing it was exceeding delightfull.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, Ded. xxxviii. (J.). He minded only the clearness of his Satire, and the cleanness of Expression.
2. Moral or ceremonial purity; chastity; innocence; undefiled quality.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, IV. ix. (Bosw.). Heo on clænnesse Gode þeowode.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 105. Castitas þat is clenesse on englisc.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 11. Meidenhad … ouer alle Þing luueð cleannesse.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1. Clannesse who-so kyndly cowþe comende.
c. 1386. Chaucer, C. T. Prol., 506. Wel oughte a prest ensample for to give, By his clennesse, how that his scheep schulde lyve.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13041. Ho keppit not hir klennes with a cloise hert.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 108. In clannes and in cristes merk.
1509. Fisher, Wks. (1876), 181. Clennes of conscyence.
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., V. ii. Taking a delight in the cleaneness of my conuersation.
1611. Bible, Ps. xviii. 20. According to the cleannesse of my hands hath hee recompensed me.
1721. R. Keith, trans. T. à Kempis’ Solit. Soul, iii. 137. A Resting-place for thee … who art the Lover of Cleanness, and the Inhabitant of a good Conscience.
