watchingness

English

Etymology

watching +‎ -ness

Noun

watchingness (uncountable)

1. The quality of watching; vigilant attention.
   • a. 1667, Jeremy Taylor, The Anglican Church Vindicated in Answer to M. D'Aubigné's Discourse Entitled: “Geneva and Oxford.”, J. Ollivier, published 1844:

     Is it not then, moreover, preposterous to affirm that the state of watchingness, inquietude, struggle, knowing that the enemy is ever in ambush for the soul,—a state in which the Christian is ceaselessly kept—is one that begets pride, when its natural consequence cannot but be humility?

   • 2016, Alexandra Glynn, Escaped from the Nations, page 15:

     Beulah's mother came over with her silent watchingness and leaned over her pale daughter.