English

Noun

ventosity ‎(usually uncountable, plural ventosities)

1. The quality or state of being ventose; windiness; hence, vainglory; pride.
   • 1888, John Ruskin, Proserpina, Volume 1:

     On the one hand, a sternness and a coarseness of structure which changes its stem into a stake, and its leaf into a spine; on the other, an utter flaccidity and ventosity of structure, which changes its stem into a riband, and its leaf into a bubble.

   • 1891, Various, Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 101, November 7, 1891:

     Both of them were youths of a Sprightly Genius, and of an Alert Apprehension, attended, in the case of GRANDOLPH, with a mighty heat and ebullition of Fancy, which led early to a certain frothiness or ventosity in speech.

   • 1907, John Morley, Studies in Literature:

     And surely no small number of those who are of a solid nature, and who, from the want of this ventosity, cannot spread all sail in pursuit of their own honour, suffer some prejudice and lose dignity by their moderation."

   • (Can we date this quote?), Honore de Balzac, Droll Stories, Volume 1:

     Seek something better than ventosity beneath the sky.