noun
- plural of donnishness; the quality or state of being donnish (scholarly, pedantic, or characteristic of a university don)
Usage: chiefly British; formal
Examples
- The professor's donnishnesses were evident in his elaborate vocabulary and obscure literary references.
- Her donnishnesses made her seem out of touch with everyday concerns.
- The donnishnesses of the faculty were both admired and gently mocked by students.
- He cultivated a certain donnishness that set him apart from his more practical colleagues.