derknesse

Middle English

Alternative forms

• derckness, dercness, derkenes, derkenesse, derkenys, derknes, derknez, dirkenes, dirknes, dorknesse, durkenes, dyrknys

Etymology

From Old English deorcnes; equivalent to derk +‎ -nesse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɛrknɛs/

Noun

derknesse

1. darkness (absence of light)
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Nun's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 383-385:

     [...] ‘Now, Cristes owene knightes leve and dere,
     Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
     And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.’

     [...] ‘Now, Christ's own knights beloved and dear,
     Cast away all the works of darkness,
     And arm yourselves in armor of brightness.’

2. darkness (dark colouration)
3. sightlessness, blindness
4. error, immorality
5. ignorance, non-understanding
6. gloominess, depression
7. (rare) figurativeness, opaqueness

Descendants

• English: darkness
• Scots: daurkness

References

• “derknes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.