deceitfulness

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English

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Etymology

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From deceitful +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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deceitfulness (usually uncountable, plural deceitfulnesses)

  1. The state or quality of being deceitful.
    • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt [] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts:
      O full off all sutelte and disseytfulnes the chylde off the devyll, and the enemye of all righteousnes thou ceasest not to pervert the strayght wayes off the lorde.
    • 1839, Charles Dickens, chapter 42, in Nicholas Nickleby:
      'This is the hend, is it, of all my bearing with her deceitfulness, her lowness, her falseness, her laying herself out to catch the admiration of vulgar minds . . .'
    • 1903, Andy Adams, The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days, ch. 20 "A Moonlight Drive",
      The lanterns both rear and forward being always in sight, I was as much at sea as any one as to the length of the herd, knowing the deceitfulness of distance of campfires and other lights by night.

References

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