retheness

Meaning

Noun

• The character, state, or condition of being rethe; fierceness; wildness; roughness; harshness; sternness; cruelty.

Origin

• From Middle English rethnes, from Old English rēþnes ("fierceness, rage, cruelty, severity, zeal, savageness, ferocity, harshness, storminess"), equivalent to rethe + -ness. Cognate with Scots rethnas ("retheness").