derknesse
Middle English
editAlternative forms
edit- derckness, dercness, derkenes, derkenesse, derkenys, derknes, derknez, dirkenes, dirknes, dorknesse, durkenes, dyrknys
Etymology
editFrom Old English deorcnes; equivalent to derk + -nesse.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editderknesse
- 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.’
- [...] ‘Now, Christ's own knights beloved and dear,
- late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Nun's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 383-385:
- darkness (dark colouration)
- sightlessness, blindness
- error, immorality
- ignorance, non-understanding
- gloominess, depression
- (rare) figurativeness, opaqueness
Descendants
editReferences
edit- “derknes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.