heaviness

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe state of being heavy; weight, weightiness, force of impact or gravity.

   This figure, immobile and static in his heaviness, was assumed to be deeply asleep and therefore to introduce a note of humorous anecdotality to what should have been a tragic scene.

   2014, Lewis Johnson, Mobility and Fantasy in Visual Culture

2. archaiccountableuncountableOppression; dejectedness, sadness; low spirits.

   By ſo much the more ſhall I to-morrovv be at the height of heart-heavineſs.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

   2 more examples

   Firſt got vvith guile, and then preſeru'd vvith dread, / And after ſpent with pride and lauiſhneſſe, / Leauing behind them griefe and heauineſſe.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   [W]hen man ſigheth, (as the Apoſtle ſaith) as burthened vvith inviſcerate intereſts, longing to put on this pure ſpirituall veſture of Filiall love, this kind of heavineſſe of ſpirit, may be ſaid to make his love vveight in heaven; […]

   1648, Walter Montagu, “The Fourteenth Treatise. The Test and Ballance of Filial and Mercenary Love. §. III. Filiall Love Described, and Some Strong Incentives Presented to Kindle It in Us.”, in Miscellanea Spiritualia: Or, Devout Essaies, London: […] W[illiam] Lee, D[aniel] Pakeman, and G[abriel] Bedell, […], →OCLC, page 190

3. countableobsoleteuncountableDrowsiness.

   The ſtrangeneſs of your ſtory put / Heavineſs in me.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

In a sentence

This figure, immobile and static in his heaviness, was assumed to be deeply asleep and therefore to introduce a note of humorous anecdotality to what should have been a tragic scene.

2014, Lewis Johnson, Mobility and Fantasy in Visual Culture

Where it comes from

1. Old Englishhefiġnes“heaviness”
2. Middle Englishhevynesse
3. Englishheaviness

From Middle English hevynesse, from Old English hefiġnes (“heaviness”). Equivalent to heavy + -ness.