worldliness

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English worldlynesse, equivalent to worldly +‎ -ness. Compare West Frisian wrâldlikens (worldliness), German Weltlichkeit (worldliness), Swedish världslighet (worldliness).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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worldliness (countable and uncountable, plural worldlinesses)

  1. The quality of being worldly; familiarity with the ways of the world.
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “An Act of Parliament”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. [], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, page 186:
      There was a coarseness in the one which revolted the almost fastidious delicacy of the other; and Lady Marchmont, full of poetry, touched with romance and sentiment, had nothing in common with the harsh and hard worldliness of Lady Mary;...
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Translations

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