unforgivingness

English

Etymology

From unforgiving +‎ -ness.

Noun

unforgivingness (uncountable)

The quality of being unforgiving.
- 1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (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?
- ^{The template Template:RQ:Austen Northanger Abbey does not use the parameter(s): url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/121/121-h/121-h.htm
  Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.}
  1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (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.
- 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

Polish: bezpardonowość (pl) f