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ness
1[ nes ]
-ness
2- a native English suffix attached to adjectives and participles, forming abstract nouns denoting quality and state (and often, by extension, something exemplifying a quality or state):
darkness; goodness; kindness; obligingness; preparedness.
-ness
1suffix forming nouns
- indicating state, condition, or quality, or an instance of one of these
greatness
a kindness
meaninglessness
selfishness
Ness
2/ ²ÔÉ›²õ /
noun
- Loch Nessa lake in NW Scotland, in the Great Glen: said to be inhabited by an aquatic monster. Length: 36 km (22.5 miles). Depth: 229 m (754 ft)
ness
3/ ²ÔÉ›²õ /
noun
- a promontory or headland
- ( capital as part of a name )
Orford Ness
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of ness1
Origin of ness2
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of ness1
Origin of ness2
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˜yÐÄvlogs That Use -ness
What does -²Ô±ð²õ²õÌýmean?
The suffix –ness is used to denote a quality or state of being. It is often used in a variety of everyday terms.
The form –ness comes from Old English –nes. Similar suffixes in Latin include –¾±³ÙÄå²õ and –³ÙÅ«»åÅ, both of which indicate a state of being and are the sources of the English suffixes –ity and –tude. Check out our entries for both suffixes to learn how frequently they appear.
Examples of -ness
An example of a word you may have encountered that features –ness is bitterness, “a harsh, acrid taste.â€
The bitter– part of the word means “bitter†in the sense of “having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste.†As we have seen, –ness means “quality†or “state of being.†Bitterness literally means “the state of being bitter.â€
What are some words that use the combining form –ness?
What are some other forms that –ness may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
Given the meaning of –ness, what does pleasantness mean?
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