retreatingness

Definitions

The quality of retreating.

uncountable

Examples

“The boldness of these bow-windows and the retreatingness of the roof give⟳ the house an appearance which would enable the thousands of Dickens' readers all over the world, who only know⟳ it from books, to recognise⟳ it at a glance⟳ […]”

“On account of his great stature, his extreme slimness, his shyness and retiringness — one might say⟳ retreatingness — his ruminant habits, his mildness and his gentleness, and the abnormal length of his neck, I used to call⟳ him the giraffe.”

“But with all this retreatingness, she is inwardly drawn by his handsome mien; to see⟳ him ride⟳ by is a love-potion to her […]”

CEFR level