n. 1. Heaviness; firmness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Seriousness; gravity; discretion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Her sadness and her benignity. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. Quality of being sad, or unhappy; gloominess; sorrowfulness; dejection. [ 1913 Webster ]
Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Sorrow; heaviness; dejection. See Grief. [ 1913 Webster ]