dirtiness
English edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Audio (US) (file)
Noun edit
dirtiness (usually uncountable, plural dirtinesses)
- The state or quality of being dirty.
- 1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter XI, in Babbitt, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, section IV, page 150:
- Paul was distressingly clean, but Babbitt reveled in a good sound dirtiness, in not having to shave till his spirit was moved to it.
- 1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XIV, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], →OCLC:
- Dirtiness is inherent in hotels and restaurants, because sound food is sacrificed to punctuality and smartness.
- 1948, Alan Paton, chapter 6, in Cry, the Beloved Country, New York: Scribner, published 1987:
- So they walked till they came to Claremont and Kumalo was shocked by its shabbiness and dirtiness, and the closeness of the houses, and the filth in the streets.
Synonyms edit
Translations edit
state or quality of being dirty