Obs. [f. as prec. + -NESS.] Authentical quality; authenticity.
1. Authoritativeness, original authority.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., VI. xiii. (1821), 295. They might seem to weaken the authenticalness of the divine oracles.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Camb., 25. Although some copies and transcripts of them were reserved; yet … such carried not authenticalness with them.
2. = AUTHENTICITY 2.
1637. Winstanley, Eng. Poets, 147. These additions … obtain not equal authenticalness with what was set forth by Mr. Cambden himself.
1725. Brice’s Week. Jrnl., 6 Aug., 4. The Two following Stories … For the Authenticalness of either I cannot answer.
3. = AUTHENTICITY 3.
1667. Treaty, in Magens, Insurances (1755), II. 523. Countersigns … whereby their Authenticalness may the better appear, and that they may not in any wise be falsified.
1702. Addison, Dial. Medals (1751), 8. Descanting upon the rarity and authenticalness of the several pieces that lie before them.
a. 1859. L. Hunt, in Athenæum, 7 July (1883), 18. Mrs. Iago asked me the other day about its authenticalness.
