English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English homlynesse, homelynesse, hamelynes, equivalent to homely +‎ -ness.

Noun edit

homeliness (countable and uncountable, plural homelinesses)

  1. The property of being homely.
  2. The quality associated with home; domesticity.
    • 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Romance and Reality. [], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, [], →OCLC, pages 209–210:
      How many familiar faces, rejoicing in our joy, sorrowing with our sorrow—how many cares, pleasant from habit—sickness, whose suffering gave a tenderer character to love—mirth, the mirth of the cheerful hearth or the daily meal—mirth, like home-made bread, sweeter from its very homeliness—...