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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024-ness, suffix. - -ness is attached to adjectives and verbs ending in -ing or -ed/-en to form nouns that refer to the quality or state of the adjective or verb:dark + -ness → darkness;prepared + -ness → preparedness (= a state of being prepared).
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: -ness suffix forming nouns - indicating state, condition, or quality, or an instance of one of these: greatness, selfishness, meaninglessness, a kindness
Etymology: Old English -nes, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic -nassus ness (nes),USA pronunciation n. - a headland;
promontory;
cape.
- Old Norse nes; akin to nose
- Middle English -nes(se) (in place names), in part continuing Old English næs, in part bef. 900
- 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; kindness;obligingness;preparedness.
- Middle English, Old English -nes, -nis, cognate with German -nis, Gothic -(n)assus; suffix origin, originally *-assus; -n- by false division of words with adjective, adjectival and past participle stems ending in -n-; compare Old English efnes (later efen-nys) evenness
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