unforgivingness

English

Etymology

unforgiving +‎ -ness

Noun

unforgivingness (uncountable)

1. The quality of being unforgiving.
   • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC:

     But now they are sufficiently cleared from every imputation of unforgivingness; for, while I appeared to them in the character of a vile hypocrite, pretending to true penitence, yet giving up myself to profligate courses, how could I expect either their pardon or blessing?

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1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:

She knew not how such an offence as hers might be classed by the laws of worldly politeness, to what a degree of unforgivingness it might with propriety lead, nor to what rigours of rudeness in return it might justly make her amenable.

1. • 1888, James Russell Lowell, “Credidimus Jovem Regnare”, in Heartsease and Rue‎^[1], Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co, page 185:

     And yet I frankly must confess
     A secret unforgivingness,
     And shudder at the saving chrism
     Whose best New Birth is Pessimism;

   • 1970, Tamara Talbot Rice, Elizabeth, Empress of Russia, Praeger, page 105:

     They had spent their entire lives as prisoners in Siberia and they now appealed to the empress for their release. In a rare instance of unforgivingness Elizabeth refused to grant it.

Translations

Translations

• Polish: bezpardonowość (pl) f