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lividness

lividness

8.6
An unusual change of skin color to pale blue often caused by a bruise, illness or strong emotion
  • noun
  • /ˈlɪvɪdnəs/
translation icon : livididad
  • Her lividness grew more pronounced as she learned about the tragic news.

Examples

  • Nevertheless, he made it to the table, his lividness revealing horrible pain.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The atmosphere was red, and through it, trunks, chimneys, and houses turned white with a most melancholy lividness.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • After falling and hitting his leg, his lividness indicated that he was injured.

  • The patient's lividness suggested that he was suffering from a serious illness.

Synonyms

pallor
vslividness
6 8.3

A very pale look to the skin that shows illness or shock

is the same loss of color but framed as the main general concept
paleness
vslividness
3 4.3

A face that looks very light in colour because of illness, fear, or lack of sun

focuses specifically on unnatural skin color loss from medical or emotional causes
livor
vslividness
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Bluish-purple color of the skin caused by blood pooling under the skin after death or injury

describes a general loss of skin color without the specific blue or purple hue
lividity
vslividness
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An unnatural pale look in the skin after injury, illness or strong emotion

is the same idea expressed as the principal term for that condition
achromasia
vslividness
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An unusual lack of color in the skin that makes it look very pale

is the same visible effect but named in more general everyday language
wanness
vslividness
  • Archaic
9.7

A paleness of the skin caused by illness or strong emotion

is the same condition named as the main concept rather than a variant
luridness
vslividness
9.9

An unnatural paleness of the skin from bruising, illness, or shock

is the principal term for that same loss of skin color
pallidness
vslividness
8.2

A condition where the skin looks very pale because of illness or shock

is the core term for that loss, not limited by formality or context

Antonyms

16 4.6

Ability of a living thing to survive and grow

2.5

The quality of having many bright colors

How Pale

lividness
8.6
pallor
6 8.3
paleness
3 4.3

Surface Forms

lividness singular
lividnesses plural

Morphology

lividness = livid (transparent) = livid + ness

Regular nominalization from the adjective 'livid' meaning 'state or quality of being livid', so learners who know 'livid' can infer the noun.

Etymology

Lividness comes from the Latin lividus, which meant 'bluish' or 'black and blue'. So lividness describes the 'bluish' or pale colour of the skin after a bruise, sickness, or a strong shock.