[f. as prec. + -NESS.] Commodious state or quality:
† a. Advantageousness, suitableness, convenience. Obs.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 18. For commodiousnes, necessity, and auantage.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxx. § 2. The commodiousness of this invention caused all parts of Christendom to follow it.
1658. A. Fox, trans. Wurtz’ Surg., v. 342. A Barber knoweth the commodiousness of soft fingers at the touching of veins.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. x. (1743), 259. An admirable commodiousness … to travel from London.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 122. Pearls have also physical virtues exceeding the commodiousness of ornament.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. I. i. 4. Regions that offered … every commodiousness of water.
b. esp. in reference to convenience of position, accessibility, and (usually) ampleness of room.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 196. The commodiousnesse of the place, where hee abideth.
1647. Sprigge, Anglia Rediv., IV. vii. (1854), 259. Through the commodiousness of its situation … as lying but eighteen miles north from Oxford.
1673. Temple, Ess. Irel., Wks. 1731, I. 112. The Trade of a County arises from … the Commodiousness of Ports.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 487. The commodiousness and length of their canals are incredible.
1812. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., IX. 323. Adverting to the size and commodiousness of the buildings.
1850. Hawthorne, Scarlet L., ix. Such commodiousness of situation.
