maiden-auntishness

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

maiden-auntish +‎ -ness

Noun[edit]

maiden-auntishness (uncountable)

  1. The quality of being maiden-auntish.
    • 1940, Warwick Deeping, chapter 30, in The Man Who Went Back[1], London: Cassell, page 326:
      I am afraid I have no use for the nice, tepid people, or that milk and water maiden-auntishness which primly reproves colour and passion.