DISINTERESTEDNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does disinterestedness mean? 

• DISINTERESTEDNESS (noun)
  The noun DISINTERESTEDNESS has 1 sense:

1. freedom from bias or from selfish motives

  Familiarity information: DISINTERESTEDNESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISINTERESTEDNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Freedom from bias or from selfish motives

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("disinterestedness" is a kind of...):

impartiality; nonpartisanship (an inclination to weigh both views or opinions equally)

Derivation:

disinterested (unaffected by self-interest)

 Context examples 

Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness beyond reason.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Your sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I am sure I loved that baby quite as truly, quite as tenderly, with greater purity and more disinterestedness, than can enter into the best love of a later time of life, high and ennobling as it is.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Assured of the love of such a woman—the disinterested love, for Jane Fairfax's character vouches for her disinterestedness; every thing in his favour,—equality of situation—I mean, as far as regards society, and all the habits and manners that are important; equality in every point but one—and that one, since the purity of her heart is not to be doubted, such as must increase his felicity, for it will be his to bestow the only advantages she wants.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He had every well-grounded reason for solid attachment; he knew her to have all the worth that could justify the warmest hopes of lasting happiness with her; her conduct at this very time, by speaking the disinterestedness and delicacy of her character (qualities which he believed most rare indeed), was of a sort to heighten all his wishes, and confirm all his resolutions.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)