Now rare. Also 4–5 stablynesse, 6 stablynes. [f. STABLE a. + -NESS.] The quality or condition of being stable: = STABILITY.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23541. Bot in þat mikel stabilnes [v.r. stablenes, stabulnes], Sal nan yerne be bot þat he es.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. vi. 30. Al that moeveth in any manere, taketh his causes … of the stablenesse of the divyne thoght.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Prose), lxii. 40. Þe reule of stabilnes.
1421. Hoccleve, Compl., 9. Stablenes in this worlde is there none; there is no thinge but chaunge and variaunce.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, III. (1577), O iv. I impute it to the surenesse and stablenesse of the woman, and wauering of the man.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 92. The King-becoming Graces, as Iustice, Verity, Temp’rance, Stablenesse.
1646. P. Bulkeley, Gospel Covt., V. 360. He grounds the truth and certainty of the promise upon the stablenesse of God’s counsell.
1702. Earl of Marchmont, in Lond. Gaz., No. 3819/3. Her Stableness in, and Fidelity to the Protestant Religion.
1909. Ld. Killanin, in 19th Cent., Oct., 677. Somewhat disconcerting to our treasured sense of stableness and identity.
