rankness

Noun

rankness (countable and uncountable, plural ranknesses)

1. The quality of being rank, of having a repulsive or pungent odor.
   • […] the bowels of the beast are commonlie cast awaie because of their ranknesse […]1578, Raphael Holinshed et al., Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, Volume I, Book 3, Chapter 1 “Of cattell kept for profit,” p. 222
   • A match scratched and the sweet rankness of his corn-cob pipe drifted through the rooms.1933, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, chapter 34, in South Moon Under
2. Exuberant or uncontrolled growth.
   • Tam’d us to Manners, when the Stage was rude;1706, John Dryden, “To my Dear Friend Mr. Congreve, On His Comedy, call’d, The Double-Dealer” in The Double Dealer by William Congreve, London: Jacob Tonson, Like Janus he the stubborn Soil manur’d...
   • […] a wilderness of weeds, to be sure, whose rankness far over-topped their neglected growth; yet, notwithstanding, evidence of a wealthy soil, that might yield luxuriant crops under other and favourable circumstances.1847, Emily Brontë, chapter 18, in Wuthering Heights
3. (obsolete) Exuberance, excessiveness.
   • First Gentleman. God save you, sir! where have you been broiling?
     Third Gentleman. Among the crowd i’ the Abbey; where a finger
     Could not be wedged in more: I am stifled
     With the mere rankness of their joy.1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio)...
4. (obsolete) Insolence.
   • I will physic your rankness […]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...