dimness

noun

Etymology: From Middle English dymnes, dymnesse, from Old English dimnes, dymnys, dimness (“dimness, darkness, obscurity”), equivalent to dim + -ness.

1. The state of being dim.

   “So likewise a day comes when the Runic Thor, with his Eddas, must withdraw into dimness; and many an African Mumbo-Jumbo and Indian Pawpaw be utterly abolished.”

2. The state of being dim.

   “Father John was looking from her to her man, to the bundle in the man's arms, and was in danger of forgetting why they were all here. He shook himself awake, ran his fingers through his hair and said to himself, "Boy, huh?" "Girl," said the woman. "Boy, huh?" Old Father John was finally overwhelmed. "Girl," said the woman. "In that case," he said raising his hand in blessing, "I baptise him Jo…" "Amen!" Roared the congregation, eager to speed up the process and get back to why they were here, back to Tomei's baby. The man stared at the priest stunned. Clearly, the old priest had not registered much of anything they had said to him, and it seemed he was not about to. And now, thanks to his dimness, not only were they yet to find the person they were after, but they also had a baby girl named John. The man raised his voice to protest, but his wife silenced him with a smile.”