Obs. [f. LITHER a. + -NESS.]
1. Wickedness.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 197. Þu ne uorsakest nenne mon uor his luðernesse.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7999. His strengþe and is wisdom … He turnde to luþernesse, þo lanfranc was ded.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 226. Þis worlde … es ful of pompe and lythernes.
2. Laziness, sloth, listlessness, indifference; want of spirit, cowardice. Also in physical sense, laxity.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. iv. 355. He that lay in lythyrnes.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 733. I am not ladyn of liddyrnes with lumpis.
1570. Sir T. Wilson, Demosthenes, 17. Things lost by much lethernesse must be recovered againe by great diligence.
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1634), 540. It is … uniust that the lithernesse of our wives, should be fostered with our sweat.
1656. W. D., trans., Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., § 617. 189. Shun both extremities; but sloath and litherness more.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Dropsy, When the Dropsy proceeds from the real Indisposition … of the Liver, its known by … Litherness or Supinity of the Belly.
