[f. as prec. + -NESS.] The quality of being licentious.
1. Assumption of undue freedom; disregard of rule or correctness; laxity, looseness.
1563. H. B., trans. P. Martyr’s Rom., 441 b. Neither let him with overmuche licentiousnes vse what meates he lust.
1612. trans. Benvenuto’s Passenger, I. ii. § 92. 165. It is too great licentiousnesse for a servant to goe out without leaue.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low C. Warres, I. 15. They sometimes come nearer to licentiousness, then liberty.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., XVIII. 610. Nor can this new Licentiousness of Bleeding be any way defended.
1778. Bp. Lowth, Transl. Isaiah, Prel. Dissert. (ed. 12), 45. The difference … is not to be imputed to the licentiousness of the translator.
1788. H. Walpole, Lett., iv. 127. Corneille, Racine, Pope, exploded the licentiousness that reigned before them.
1817. Bentham, Parl. Ref. Catech. (1818), 76. The inconsistency between the licentiousness on this point in this situation, and the comparative strictness in other public situations.
1883. Burgon, Revision Revised, 31. Nothing else but depravations of the text, the result of inattention or licentiousness.
2. Disregard of law, morality or propriety; outrageous conduct. Now rare.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 31. By which theyr licentiousnes, the people of the Iland beyng prouoked.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 14. Such licentiousness or Anarchie is abborred both of God and nature.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Commons, Wks. 1755, II. I. 38. The custom of accusing the nobles to the people … having been always looked upon … as an effect of licentiousness.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 325. That licentiousness and anarchy which always follow a relaxation of the moral principles.
1815. Mackintosh, France in 1815, Wks. 1846, III. 187. The licentiousness with which they had exercised their saturnalian privileges.
a. 1852. Webster, Wks. (1877), II. 392. That authorized licentiousness that trespasses on right.
3. Lasciviousness, lewdness.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 88. The licenciousnesse of theyr songes … is hurtfull to discipline and good manners.
a. 1631. Donne, in Select. (1840), 24. Though thou haue no farther taste of licentiousness in thy middle age.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. xxviii. 233. Gods wrath against … prophanenesse, lewdnesse, and licentiousnesse.
1727. Swift, Let. Eng. Tongue, Wks. 1755, II. I. 187. That licentiousness which entered with the restoration.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., xi. 191. Poem … was now declared to be the Bawd of Licentiousness.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xix. The licentiousness and brutality of so old a hand as you.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iii. 194. Among the clergy properly so called … the prevailing offence was not crime, but licentiousness.
1873. Symonds, Grk. Poets, viii. 244. Aristophanes accepts licentiousness as a fact which needs no apology.
