[f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. Boldness, confidence, daring.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 494. The audaciousnesse of the artificer, who ventured to make so huge and monstrous works.
1825. T. Jefferson, Autobiog., Wks. 1859, I. 75. As much a man as either of her colleagues, in audaciousness, in enterprise, and in the thirst of domination.
2. Reckless daring; = AUDACITY 2.
1599. Mirr. Policie, 25. Fortitude … reduceth feare and audaciousnesse to mediocritie.
1742. Middleton, Cicero (ed. 3), II. vi. 17. In an act so mad … his audaciousness could not get the better of his fears.
3. Presumptuousness, effrontery, impudence, shamelessness; = AUDACITY 3.
1599. Warn. Faire Wom., II. 1493. He should with such audaciousness presume To baffle Justice.
a. 1639. Whateley, Prototypes, I. iv. (1640), 42. A grievous audaciousnesse … that hee would leape over the poles as it were which God had fixed.
1838–9. Hood’s Own, Jubb Lett., 53. As Mr. Davis had the audaciousness to own to.
