Middle English

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Etymology

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From old +‎ -nesse.

Noun

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oldenes

  1. oldness
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xviij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVII:
      So that I may reste bitwene thyn armes
      for thow arte a clene vyrgyn aboue all knyghtes as the floure of the lyly
      in whome vyrgynyte is sygnefyed
      and thou arte the rose the whiche is the floure of al good vertu
      & in coloure of fyre
      For the fyre of the holy ghoost is take so in the
      that my flesshe which was al dede of oldenes
      is become yonge ageyne
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)