Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#UNKINDNESSCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#UNKINDNESS unkyndenesse; equivalent to unkind +‎ -nessCategory:English terms suffixed with -ness#UNKINDNESS.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʌnˈkaɪndnəs/Category:English 3-syllable words#UNKINDNESSCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#UNKINDNESS

• Audio (Southern England):

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  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#UNKINDNESS

• Audio (US):

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  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#UNKINDNESS

Noun

unkindness (countable and uncountable, plural unkindnesses)Category:English lemmas#UNKINDNESSCategory:English nouns#UNKINDNESSCategory:English uncountable nouns#UNKINDNESSCategory:English countable nouns#UNKINDNESSCategory:English countable nouns#UNKINDNESSCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#UNKINDNESSCategory:Pages with entries#UNKINDNESSCategory:Pages with 1 entry#UNKINDNESS

1. (uncountableCategory:English uncountable nouns#UNKINDNESS) The state or quality of being unkind.
2. (countableCategory:English countable nouns#UNKINDNESS) An unkind act.
3. Category:English collective nouns#UNKINDNESS(countableCategory:English countable nouns#UNKINDNESS, collectiveCategory:English collective nouns#UNKINDNESS) The collective noun for ravens

   Coordinate terms: flock, murder, conspiracy

   • 2006, Kate Forsyth, The Shining City: Book Two of Rhiannon's Ride‎, Roc, published 2006, →ISBN:

     All Olwynne could remember, though, was her father falling away from her into some deep pit, his black wings bent over his face, and then hundreds of ravens, an unkindness of ravens, plummeting from the sky to peck out her eyes.

     Category:English terms with quotations#UNKINDNESS

   • 2007, Elizabeth Haydon, The Thief Queen's Daughter, Starscape Books, published 2007, →ISBN, page 228:

     "There's an unkindness of ravens that roosts on top of the guild. Their numbers are growing by the day. Aren't they spectacular?

     Category:English terms with quotations#UNKINDNESS

   • 2010, Rick Burroughs, Alan Wake, Tor Books, published 2010, →ISBN, page 38:

     A raven cawed somewhere up ahead, and its cry was answered by others, an unkindness of ravens on all sides.

     Category:English terms with quotations#UNKINDNESS

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:unkindness.