gayness

[ gey-nis ]

noun

gay or lesbian sexual orientation or behavior.
Older Use. the state or quality of being bright or showy: the gayness of the décor.

Older Use. the state or quality of being merry or lively: her gayness of spirit.

Origin of gayness

First recorded in 1400–50 for defs. 2, 3, and in 1950–55 for def. 1; Middle English gaynesse, gainesse; see gay + -ness

gayness passes across my lips and courses through my veins like a 20-year-old scotch.
Rick Perry’s Stupid Comment on Booze and Sex(uality) | Sally Kohn | June 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Gates imposed a Must Tell policy on the CIA, because he recognized gayness was not the distraction—hiding it was.
Michael Sam Is Not a ‘Distraction’ | Dave Cullen | February 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But in framing his gayness around race-based oppression, Lemon ignited a potent battle between allegiance and identity.
Letter to the Don Lemon Haters | David Kaufman | August 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
That Campfield construes gayness to be a dangerous act may be rooted in his faulty understanding of HIV and AIDS.
‘Don’t Say Gay’ Is Back: 5 Things to Know About the Tennessee Bill | Kevin Fallon | January 31, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The military's outlawing of gayness has made it one of the last bunkers of safe male bonding.
What Don't Ask, Don't Tell Protects | Brendan Tapley | December 4, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST

Each candlestick wore, with holiday gayness, a large green bow, and the soft combination of color and grouping was charming.
Suppers | Paul Pierce
The streets were clean and bright; and there was plenty of gayness and joy—for them as could grab a share of it.
The Devil's Garden | W. B. Maxwell
And as he spoke all of the gayness of joy was lost from the voice of my beloved Gouverneur and in its place was a bitterness.
The Daredevil | Maria Thompson Daviess
He had selected them for the gayness of their uniforms, which he fancied betokened their exalted rank.
The Cruise of the Frolic | W.H.G. Kingston
Her good spirits and gayness created a happy mood in the nation.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. | S. A. Reilly

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