[f. as prec. + -NESS.] The quality of being fastidious.
† 1. Loathing, disgust. Obs.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 28 b. Sowthistle … causeth fastidiousnes or lothsomnesse of the stomake.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 267/2. We must in the space of two yeares give it nothinge to eate then pappe, excepte it weare, that it gette a fastidiousnes therof or otherwise sickened.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 425. After I had … escaped infinite dangers … excessive fastidiousnesse, unspeakable adversities.
1807. Coxe, Austria, I. 67. Rhodolph observing their fastidiousness, rose from table.
† 2. Disdainfulness, haughtiness, pride. Obs.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3). Fastidiousnesse, disdainfulnesse.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. § 14. 52. He reproved the fastidiousnesse of the Pharisee, that came with Eucharist to GOD and contempt to his Brother.
3. Disposition to be easily disgusted; squeamishness; over-niceness in matters of taste or propriety.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 202. Less Licentious and more Discerning Times, (which may be, perhaps, approaching) will Repair the Omissions and Fastidiousness of the Present.
1784. J. Barry, Lect. Art, vi. (1848), 207. Fastidiousness, and a useless and too critical nicety, may be expected to increase.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 745. The fastidiousness of criticism may object to the frequent repetition.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 98. Any nice inquiry … would be a misplaced fastidiousness.
