[f. EARTHY a. + -NESS.]
1. The quality of being earthy; the properties characteristic of earth as a substance or as an ‘element.’
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. cxxiv. (1495), 685. Tame peres grene … be soure: but in sethynge … wyth hony … the erthynesse … therof maye be somwhat tempryd.
1678. R. R[ussell], Geber, II. II. I. x. 166. We find Bodies of more Earthiness of more easie Calcination.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 18–9. For there is no Stone but will, by Reason of its Earthiness, sink in Water.
1870. Reade, Put yourself in his Pl., III. 275. The water had a foul and appalling odour, a compound of earthiness and putrescence.
† b. concr. Earthy matter. Obs.
1528. Paynell, Salerne Regim., B iij b. The moystnes therof [of fleme] is conieyled and some what altered to erthynes.
1641. French, Distill., i. (1651), 19. The Spirit … ariseth … without any earthinesse mixed with it.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., I. 124. Having a juice extremely sweet and sugred, leaving no Earthiness or Lees behind it.
2. fig. = EARTHLINESS 1.
1619. Herbert, Lett., 6 Oct. in Walton, Lives (1670), IV. 95. This dignity, hath no such earthiness in it, but it may very well be joined with Heaven.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, v. § 24. 161. There is dreaming enough, and earthiness enough, and sensuality enough in human existence.
1864. D. G. Mitchell, Seven Stories, 265. The eyes are living eyes, but with no touch of earthiness, save the shade of care which earth’s sorrows give even to the Holy Virgin.
