[f. as prec. + -NESS.] The quality or state of being faulty.
1. The quality or state of having blemishes or defects; defectiveness, imperfection. † To faultiness: = ‘To a fault’ (see FAULT sb. 3 c).
1530. Palsgr., 219/1. Fautynesse, favutseté.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 263. Theyr good workes are but begonne and sauoring of the faultinesse of the flesh.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. iii. 33. Cle. Bear’st thou her face in mind? is’t long or round? Mess. Round, euen to faultinesse.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst. (1808), II. 331. The first atheistic instance of the faultiness of things.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 326. Nor was the faultiness of our ship all, but we had also our provisions to seek.
1793. Beattie, Moral Sc., I. i. § 11. 181–2. He who is pleased, or displeased, according to the degree of excellence or faultiness, is a man of good taste.
a. 1846. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. 69/1. I must show my inclination to impartiality, by adducing a few instances of faultiness in Byron.
2. The quality or state of having moral blemishes, of being in fault or to blame; depravity, viciousness, culpability, guilt.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xxv. 21. As though David requyre to bee preserved cleere from all faultynesse.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (Camden), 31. The testimonyes of many came in against him, but they concluded not vpon certaineties but surmises, yet such as I could not free him from much faultinesse.
1818. Mrs. Shelley, Frankenst., i. (1865), 63. My father would be unjust if he ascribed my neglect to vice, or faultiness on my part.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., VI. (1889), II. 242. I bow my head … Break myself up in shame of faultiness.
