[f. LIGHTSOME a.2 + -NESS.] The quality of being lightsome, luminous or well-lighted; brightness; † clearness.

1

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 304/2. Lyghtesumnesse, luminositas.

2

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 583/1. The faith is not ordinarily with … open, ineuitable, and inuincible lyghtsomenesse inspired into the soule.

3

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 182 b. Spoken … with a farre more playne lightsomnesse by our expositors.

4

1591.  Harington, Orl. Fur., III. xvi. A darksome place with lightsomnes to fill.

5

1617.  Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, I. iv. 170. Paul … was dazeled with the exceeding lightsomenesse.

6

1754.  Edwards, Freed. Will, IV. ix. (1762), 259. The Sun’s being the Cause of the Lightsomeness and Warmth of the Atmosphere.

7

1791.  Bentham, Panopt., I. 14. Airiness, lightsomeness, economy … are the evident results.

8

1892.  Maclaren, Paul’s Prayers, etc. 173. There are some of you, grovelling down at the bottom of the ocean, to whom … The lightness and lightsomeness of the pure life … would seem miraculous.

9