nigritude

[ nig-ri-tood, -tyood, nahy-gri- ]

noun

1. complete darkness or blackness.

nigritude

/ ˈnɪɡrɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. rare.
   blackness; darkness

Word History and Origins

Origin of nigritude¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin nigritūdō “blackness, black color,” equivalent to nigr- (stem of niger ) “black” + -i- connecting vowel + -tūdō noun suffix; -i-, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of nigritude¹

C17: from Latin nigritūdō, from niger black

Example Sentences

Met a charcoal cart, run against us and distributed a shower of pulverized nigritude over the company, to the great damage of the clean linen of the gentlemen, and the adornments generally of the ladies, especially those little white rosettes which they had tied on the backs of their heads, and dignified with the fabulous title of bonnets.

From Project Gutenberg

I like to meet a sweep—understand me—not a grown sweeper—old chimney-sweepers are by no means attractive—but one of those tender novices, blooming through their first nigritude, the maternal washings not quite effaced from the cheek—such as come forth with the dawn, or somewhat earlier, with their little professional notes sounding like the peep peep of a young sparrow; or liker to the matin lark should I pronounce them, in their aerial ascents not seldom anticipating the sun-rise?

From Project Gutenberg

How the brother and sister would croon over him “with murmurs made to bless,” calling him their “tender novice” “in the first bloom of his nigritude,” their belated straggler from the “rear of darkness thin,” their little night-shade, not deadly, their infantile Will-o’-the-wisp caught before his sins, their “poor Blot,” “their innocent Blackness,” their “dim Speck.”

From Project Gutenberg

In Hereford Road I occupy garishly genteel first-floor front and back apartments at rupees fifteen per week and the Lady of the Land has entreated me to kindly excuse the waiting-maid for jumping with diffidence whenever I pop upon her unpremeditatedly on the stairs, being a nervous girl and unaccustomed to dark-complexioned gentlemen—though her own countenance, from superabundance of blacking and smuts, being of a far superior nigritude, it is I myself who should be more justified in jumping.

From Project Gutenberg

But what a sable triumph was his when he had cleared his awful tunnel and had emerged into daylight, blooming, as Lamb would say, in his first tender nigritude!

From Project Gutenberg