ness
[ nes ]
/ nɛs /
noun
a headland; promontory; cape.
Origin of ness
before 900; Middle English
-nes(se) (in place names), in part continuing Old English
næs, in part < Old Norse
nes; akin to
nose
Words nearby ness
nervy,
nesbit,
nescience,
nesh,
nesosilicate,
ness,
nesselrode,
nessie,
nessler's reagent,
nesslerize,
nessus
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 orig.
*-assus; -n- by false division of words with adj. and past participle stems ending in
-n-; compare Old English
efnes (later
efen-nys)
evenness
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 these
greatness; selfishness; meaninglessness; a kindness
Word Origin for -ness
Old English
-nes, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic
-nassus