ness
[ nes ]
/ nɛs /
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noun
a headland; promontory; cape.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of ness
First recorded before 900; Middle English -nes(s) (in placenames), in part continuing Old English næs, in part from Old Norse nes; akin to nose
Definition for ness (2 of 2)
-ness
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.
Origin of -ness
Middle English, Old English -nes, -nis, cognate with German -nis, Gothic -(n)assus; suffix originally (unattested) -assus; -n- by false division of words with adjective and past participle stems ending in -n-; compare Old English efnes (later efen-nys ) evenness
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for ness
British Dictionary definitions for ness (1 of 3)
ness
/ (nɛs) /
noun
- archaic a promontory or headland
- (capital as part of a name)Orford Ness
Word Origin for ness
Old English næs headland; related to Old Norse nes, Old English nasu nose
British Dictionary definitions for ness (2 of 3)
Ness
/ (nɛs) /
noun
Loch Ness a 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)
British Dictionary definitions for ness (3 of 3)
-ness
suffix forming nouns
indicating state, condition, or quality, or an instance of one of thesegreatness; selfishness; meaninglessness; a kindness
Word Origin for -ness
Old English -nes, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic -nassus
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