gratuitousness

English

Etymology

gratuitous +‎ -ness

Noun

gratuitousness (uncountable)

1. The state or characteristic of being gratuitous.
   • 1894, Thomas Hardy, chapter 1, in Life's Little Ironies:

     [I]t is beyond question that there are a few subtle-souled persons with whom the absolute gratuitousness of an act of reparation is an inducement to perform it; while exhortation as to its necessity would breed excuses for leaving it undone.

Synonyms

• needlessness, unnecessariness