venomousness

Ashburner dreamed that he was again in Venice, and that the musquitoes of that delightful city, of whose venomousness and assiduity he retained shuddering recollections, were making an onslaught upon him in great numbers; while Benson awoke toward morning with a great outcry; in apology for which he solemnly assured his friend, that two seconds before he was in South Africa, where a lion of remarkable size and ferocity had caught him by the leg.

Of knowledge in general, and without qualification, it is said by the Apostle that “it puffeth up;” and the father of all modern science, writing directly in its praise, yet asserts this danger even in more absolute terms, calling it a “venomousness” in the very nature of knowledge itself.

Let us compromise by saying that Mr. Lloyd George was singularly like a spitting, angry cat, which had got, perhaps, out of serious danger from her pursuers, but which caterwauled and spat and swore with vigour and venomousness quite surprising in that diminutive bulk.

It was one of those gifted countenances which could change in a moment from a dog-like fawning to a snaky venomousness.The man wore a black hat of soft felt; his clothes were black and glistening with use and grease.

Antonyms: nonpoisonous, antidotal. poisonousness, n. toxicity, venomousness, virulence, malignancy. poke, n. bag, sack, pocket; thrust, punch, jog, dig; dawdler, bore. poke, v. stir up, excite; punch, thrust; gore, hook; grope. poke fun at.