cantankerousness

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English cantankerous

Proto-Germanic *-in-

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti

Proto-Germanic *-ōną

Proto-Germanic *-inōną

Proto-Indo-European *-dyé-

Proto-Germanic *-atjaną

Proto-Indo-European *-tus

Proto-Germanic *-þuz

Proto-Germanic *-assuz

Proto-Germanic *-inassuz

Proto-West Germanic *-nassī

Old English -nes

Middle English -nesse

English -ness

English cantankerousness

From cantankerous + -ness.

Noun

cantankerousness (uncountable)

1. The state of being cantankerous.

   Synonym: cantankerosity

   • 1863, George Cupples, Hinchbridge haunted:

     The gamekeeper was slower to smooth himself down than Solomon; who showed much good-temper, setting himself to make up for a little cantankerousness, in fact growing to be friendly.