-ness

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Middle English from Old English -nis, -nes (“‘-ness’”) from Proto-Germanic *-nassus (“‘-ness’”), alteration (by false division) of -n- (adjective and verbal terminating consonant) + Proto-Germanic *-assus (“‘-ness’”). Akin to Old Saxon -nissi, -nussi (Dutch -nis), Old High German -nissa, -nassi, -nussi (German -nis), Gothic -inasus, -inassus

[edit] Suffix

-ness

1. Appended to adjectives to form nouns meaning "the state of (the adjective)", "the quality of (the adjective)", or "the measure of (the adjective)".

   calmness ← calm

   darkness ← dark

   kindness ← kind

   oneness ← one

2. Appended to words of other parts of speech to form nouns (often nonce words or terms in philosophy) meaning the state/quality/measure of the idea represented by these words.

   thatness ← that

   treeness ← tree

[edit] Synonyms

• -hood
• -itas
• -itude
• -ity

[edit] Derived terms

• Category:English words suffixed with -ness

[edit] Translations