ness
Origin of ness
Other definitions for ness (2 of 2)
Origin of -ness
WORDS THAT USE -NESS
What does -ness mean?
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 –itās and –tūdō, 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.”
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.”
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?
How to use ness in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ness (1 of 3)
- archaic a promontory or headland
- (capital as part of a name)Orford Ness