zinginessnoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zinginess mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zinginess. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
How is the noun zinginess pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zinginess come from?
Earliest known use
1930s
The earliest known use of the noun zinginess is in the 1930s.
OED's earliest evidence for zinginess is from 1938, in Variety.
zinginess is formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: zingy adj., ‑ness suffix.
Nearby entries
- Zingara, n.1756–
- Zingaro, n.1600–
- zingel, n.1803–
- zingelin perch, n.1803
- zinger, n.1906–
- Zingg, n.1941–
- zingho, n.1743
- zingiber, n.?1720–
- zingiberaceous, adj.1821–
- zingily, adv.1951–
- zinginess, n.1938–
- zinging, n.1921–
- zinging, adj.1915–
- zingingly, adv.1952–
- zingo, int.1906–
- zingy, adj.1938–
- Zinjanthropus, n.1959–
- zinke, n.1773–
- zinnia, n.1761–
- zinnober green, n.1879–
- zinnwaldite, n.1850–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- 1938–The quality of being zingy; energy, liveliness; zest, piquancy.
- 1938
It is for distributors, and distributors alone, to bring back the old time zinginess of point-of-sale showmanship.
Variety 17 August 3/2 - 1970
[Red pepper] sauce adds appetizing zinginess to tomato juice, too..just add a few drops to taste.
Daily Times (Farmington, New Mexico) 4 September 5/3 - 2017
Like the freshness of a crisp apple or the zinginess of citrus? Try our 2016 #Riesling—it's undeniably delicious!
@warramate 2 June in twitter.com (accessed 18 Dec. 2019)
- peppera1425–In other allusive and proverbial contexts, chiefly with reference to the biting, pungent, inflaming, or stimulating qualities of pepper.
- tangc1440–A penetrating taste or flavour; usually (but not always) an after-taste, or a disagreeable or alien taste from contact with something else.
- mordacity1583–1725Pungency, sharpness, penetrating power. Obsolete.
- heat1586–The quality of being ‘hot’ in taste; strength or pungency of flavour.
- saltness1612–Piquancy, poignancy.
- piquantness1648–= piquancy, n.
- quickness1652Sharpness, keenness; pungency or acidity of taste. Obsolete.
- subtilty1661Keenness, pungency. Obsolete.
- penetratingness1662–
- pungency1663–The property of having a pungent smell or taste; (more widely) a stinging, irritant, or caustic quality.
- piquancy1664–A pleasant or invigorating sharpness or pungency of taste or smell; zest, tang; an appetizing flavour.
- poignancy1677–Pungency or sharpness of taste or smell. Frequently figurative (cf. sense 2). Now rare.
- mordicancy1693–99The quality of being biting or caustic; (also) a smarting or acute irritation.
- pertness1756–80Pungency or sharpness of taste. Obsolete.
- causticity1772–Caustic quality; burning pungent taste; the property of destroying or corroding organic tissue.
- poignance1782= poignancy, n. (in various senses); (formerly) †sharpness, pungency (obsolete); (more recently) keenness of feeling, or the ability to evoke…
- pungence1810–= pungency, n.
- warmth1816–Pungency (of seasoning).
- piquance1867–= piquancy, n.
- zinginess1938–The quality of being zingy; energy, liveliness; zest, piquancy.
- jollinessc1386–The state or quality of being jolly, in the various senses of the adjective; jollity.
- liveliheadc1425–Liveliness; vivacity; = livelihood, n.² Now archaic and rare.
- quicknessc1425–Animation; liveliness, briskness, vigour; freshness. Now rare except as merged with 2 and 3.
- vyfnes1475Liveliness, vivacity.
- ramagec1485–1618Wildness, spirit; courage; fierceness.
- couragea1498–1705Spirit, liveliness, lustiness, vigour, vital force or energy; also figurative. Obsolete.
- liveliness1534–Activity; vigour.
- spritec1540–As a mass noun: strength of character or purpose; courage, boldness, assertiveness. Cf. spirit, n. I.ii.6. Now rare (chiefly Scottish, archaic, or p…
- livelihood1566–= liveliness, n. (in various senses). Common in the 17th cent. In later use poetic and archaic.
- life1583–A sense of vitality or energy conveyed in action, thought, or expression; liveliness in feeling, manner, or aspect; animation, vivacity, spirit…
- sprightliness1599–The state, quality, or fact of being sprightly; vigour; liveliness, animation; vivacity. Also (occasionally) as a count noun: an example of this; a…
- sprightfulness1602–
- ruach1606–The spirit of God; the spirit of the living being, life force. Now also in weakened sense: vitality, liveliness. Cf. pneuma, n. 2.
- sprightiness1607–10Liveliness, vigour. Cf. sprightliness, n.
- sparkle1611–Brightness or liveliness of spirit; smartness; wittiness.
- airiness1628–Liveliness of personal manner; cheerfulness, levity, frivolity.
- vivacy1637–1719= vivacity, n.
- spiritfulness1644–The character or quality of being spirited, lively, bold, or vigorous; cf. spiritful, adj. 1.
- spirit1651–The quality of being lively or animated; vivacity. Of a person, or his or her actions, speech, etc. Cf. sense I.ii.7b.
- vivacity1652–Vigorous or energetic action; activity, energy, vigour; spirit. Now rare.
- spiritedness1654–The character or quality of being spirited, lively, or determined; liveliness, vivacity.
- brightness1660–The quality of being cheerful, alert, or lively; vivacity, animation.
- sprightness1660–Vigour, liveliness, animation; an instance of this; = sprightliness, n.
- ramageness1686Boldness, courage, spirit; unruliness; (of a hawk) wildness.
- race1690–1875figurative. A characteristic style or manner of speech, writing, etc.; liveliness, piquancy. Cf. raciness, n. 2a, racy, adj.¹ 3c. Obsolete.
- friskiness1727–The quality or state of being frisky.
- spirituousness1727–1896The state or quality of being lively, animated, or energetic; vitality. Cf. spirituosity, n. 2. Obsolete.
- vivaciousness1727–Vivacity of manner or speech; liveliness, sprightliness.
- brio1731–Liveliness, vivacity, ‘go’.
- raciness1759–With reference to speech, writing, manner, etc.: vigour, liveliness, robustness; lack of inhibition, suggestive or slightly indecent content or…
- phlogiston1789–figurative. Fiery or combustible quality. Now rare.
- animation1791–Liveliness of aspect or manner; vivacity, sprightliness, brightness.
- lifefulness1829–
- pepper-and-salt1842–With reference to the pungency or biting quality of pepper: intensity (of feeling), spirit, vigour; ‘spice’. Cf. pepper, n. II.4b.
- corkiness1845–State or quality of being ‘corky’, in different senses.
- aliveness1853–The fact or quality of being alive; energy, animation, vigour.
- tricksiness1853–Playfulness, sprightliness; mischievousness.
- vitality1858–figurative. Active force or power; mental or physical vigour; activity, animation, liveliness.
- music1859–U.S. colloquial. Originally: liveliness; excitement; fun, sport; (also) sense of the ridiculous (now rare). Later: trouble, disturbance. Cf. musical…
- virtu1876–Chiefly with reference to the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli: the strength of character necessary for political or military success; forceful…
- liveness1890–The quality or condition of being alive (in various senses). Also: liveliness.
- zippiness1907–The quality of being zippy (in various senses); speed, liveliness, zest, etc.
- bounce1909–figurative. Energy, vitality; spirit, exuberance, verve.
- zing1917–Energy, enthusiasm, or vibrancy; a stimulating or invigorating quality which adds to the enjoyment or agreeableness of something.
- radioactivity1922–figurative. A quality or state characterized by the communication of intense energy; (also) intense energy communicated by someone or something.
- oomph1937–The quality of being exciting, energetic, or sexually attractive; energy, vigour.
- pizzazz1937–An attractive combination of vitality and glamour; sparkle, effervescence; (also) flashiness, showiness.
- zinginess1938–The quality of being zingy; energy, liveliness; zest, piquancy.
- hep1946–Liveliness, pep, energy. Cf. hep, v. 2, hepped, adj. 2a.
- vavoom1962–Vigour, sex-appeal; oomph.
- welly1977–slang. Force, power; frequently in to give it some welly and variants.
- masala1986–figurative. Indian English. Piquancy, pep, vigour, excitement.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot