[f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. The quality of inspiring fear; dreadfulness.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. xv. 23. Sende now also thy good angell before vs (o Lorde of heauens) in the fearfulnesse and drede of thy mightie arme, that they which come agaynst thy holy people to blaspheme them, maye be afrayed.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy. Turkie, II. xv. 50. A great Earthquake … with horrible fearfulnesse and damage it cast down the ground the walls of the citie, and all the buildings towards the Sea side.
1831. B. E. Pote, Assassins of Paradise, 18. Its very fearfuluess the sound endeared.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxix. (1862), 410. He beheld death in all its fearfuluess.
2. The quality or state of being affected with fear; timidity, timorousness. Const. of.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxxi. 180. The lordes … went vnto the kynge, shewynge vnto hym theyr mysery, and blamed as they durste his ferefulnesse and neglygence.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xxx. 13. A fearfulnesse will I sende in to the Egipcians londe.
1562. Turner, Baths, 8 b. They [these bathes] are good for fearfulnes of the hart, and for the much panting and trembling of it, if they come of cold and moyste causes.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. § 47. The very acknowledgment of our own unworthiness to obtain, and in that respect our professed fearfulness to ask anything, otherwise then onely for his sake, to whom God can deny nothing, that this should be noted for a Popish Error.
1651. Davenant, Gondibert, III. I. 232. With a Lover’s fearfulness he spake.
1666. South, Serm., 25 Nov. A third thing … is fearfulness of … bold, popular offenders.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. iii. 125. I was frequently rallied by the Queen on account of my fearfulness, and she used to ask me whether the People of my Country were as great Cowards as myself?
1841. F.Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 46. 411. History however has decided for us the case of mere outward Toleration; and henceforth we cannot but be protected from all fearfulness of spiritual despotism, not only by the progress of civil liberty, but also by the mere competition of rival Infallibilities.
