dullness

English edit

From dull +‎ -ness.

dullness (usually uncountable, plural dullnesses)

The quality of being slow of understanding things; stupidity.
The quality of being uninteresting; boring; humorless or irksome.
- 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.ii:
  If to raise malicious smiles at the infirmities or misfortunes of those who have never injured us be the province of wit or Humour, Heaven grant me a double Portion of Dullness—
Lack of interest or excitement.
The lack of visual brilliance; want of sheen.
dullness of autumn
(of an edge) bluntness.
The quality of not perceiving or kenning things distinctly.
dullness of sight, or of hearing
(archaic) Drowsiness.
- 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
  Prospero: […] Thou art inclin'd to sleep. 'Tis a good dulness, / And give it way— I know thou canst not choose.

quality of being slow to understand

quality of being uninteresting

lack of visual brilliance

bluntness of an edge