demnition

Adjective

demnition (not comparable)

1. (euphemistic, obsolete) Damned.
   • Luckily for you, my farming is a good deal hindered by these demnition snows and frosts […]1841, Edward FitzGerald, letter to W. F. Pollock dated 10 February, 1841, in The Variorum and Definitive Edition of the Poetical and Prose Writings of Edward FitzGerald, Volume 7, p. 22
   • It is hard to tell whether the American stage is going to the demnition bow-wows for lack of honest and intelligent criticism or whether there is no such thing as criticism because there is nothing on the American stage worth criticising.1891 May 21, James Stetson Metcalfe, “Theatre-Goers’ Enemies”, in Life, volume 17, number 438, page 325

Adverb

demnition (not comparable)

1. (euphemistic, obsolete) Damned, very.
   • ‘The wine is demnition good!’ replied Selden; ‘but our friend Charley seems to be in the dumps—it don’t wake him up.’1849, Ned Buntline, New York: A Story of Real Life, Dublin: James M’Glashan, Part 5, Chapter 4, p. 287
   • They read a bloomin’ magazine story clear through from start to finish—written by a man who’s not even English, I’m told—an’ then are so demnition thick they don’t even know it’s pure fiction!1918, Clarence Herbert New, The Unseen Hand: Stories of Diplomatic Adventure, New York: Caldwell, Chapter 1, p. 12

Interjection

1. (euphemistic, obsolete) Damn (used to express anger, irritation, disappointment, annoyance, contempt, etc.).
   • “[…] It is enough to make one swear. Demnition! if my mother heard of it, what would she say!”1852, Dennis Hannigan, chapter 11, in The Swamp Steed, New York: Dewitt & Davenport, page 82