derknesse

• derckness, dercness, derkenes, derkenesse, derkenys, derknes, derknez, dirkenes, dirknes, dirkness, dorknesse, durkenes, dyrknys

From Old English deorcnes; equivalent to derk +‎ -nesse.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɛrknɛs(ə)/

derknesse

1. darkness (absence of light)
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Nun's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 383-385:

     [...] ‘Now, Cristes owene knightes leve and dere,
     Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
     And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.’

     [...] ‘Now, Christ's own knights beloved and dear,
     Cast away all the works of darkness,
     And arm yourselves in armor of brightness.’

2. darkness (dark colouration)
3. sightlessness, blindness
4. error, immorality
5. ignorance, non-understanding
6. gloominess, depression
7. (rare) figurativeness, opaqueness

• English: darkness
• Scots: daurkness

• “derknes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.