[f. LOVING ppl. a. + -NESS.] The quality or habit of being loving.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 25. Be thou a patterne to the faithful, in word, in conuersation, in louingnesse,… and in chastitie.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1590), 115 b. Carying thus in one person the only two bands of good will, louelines & louingnes.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 348. Such were her allurements, her sweetnesses, louingnesses [etc.].
1799. W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem., I. 297. There is a lovingness of heart about Parr … which would endear him even without his Greek.
1835. Brighton Patriot, 28 April, 3/3. The dog was now placed in the witness-box, to see whether he would recognize his owners, and he instantly began to lick the little girl’s face with all the lovingness of old acquaintanceship.
a. 1859. L. Hunt, Bk. Sonnet (1867), L. 66. The very lovingness of his nature.
1865. J. Grote, Moral Ideas, viii. (1876), 108. That φιλία or lovingness which creates, so to speak, a kindred and brotherhood.
b. Used as a mock title of honor.
a. 1636. Lynde, Case for Spectacles (1638), 91. Instead of the Emperours name, he assumes the Popes person, saying, Your lovingnesse wrote to me.
