dirtiness

From dirty +‎ -ness.

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dirtiness (usually uncountable, plural dirtinesses)

1. The state or quality of being dirty.
   • 1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter XI, in Babbitt, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, section IV, page 150:

     Paul was distressingly clean, but Babbitt reveled in a good sound dirtiness, in not having to shave till his spirit was moved to it.

   • 1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XIV, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], →OCLC:

     Dirtiness is inherent in hotels and restaurants, because sound food is sacrificed to punctuality and smartness.

   • 1948, Alan Paton, chapter 6, in Cry, the Beloved Country, New York: Scribner, published 1987:

     So they walked till they came to Claremont and Kumalo was shocked by its shabbiness and dirtiness, and the closeness of the houses, and the filth in the streets.

• filthiness

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