The suffix -ness is a native English suffix which is attached to adjectives and participles. It is used to form abstract nouns. These abstract nouns express quality or state. The suffix -ness is added to words such as good to get goodness, great (greatness), dark (darkness), kind (kindness), obliging (obligingness), prepared (preparedness), bright (brightness) and busy (business).
The suffix -ness is derived from the Middle English suffixes -nes or -nis. It is, in turn, derived from an Old English word, which is similar to the Old High German suffix -nissa and the Gothic -(n)assus. The suffix -ness is added at the end of an adjective to indicate the state, condition, quality or degree or something.
The suffix -(n)assus has been derived from the combination of two suffixes, namely the original suffix -assus and the suffix -n, which means by the false division of words with adjective and participle stems ending in the suffix -n. It is, in turn, derived from the Old English word efnes, which was later spelt as efen -nys. Both these words, namely efnes and efen -nys, mean evenness.
The suffix -ness is derived from the Middle English suffixes -nes or -nis. It is, in turn, derived from an Old English word, which is similar to the Old High German suffix -nissa and the Gothic -(n)assus. The suffix -ness is added at the end of an adjective to indicate the state, condition, quality or degree or something.
The suffix -(n)assus has been derived from the combination of two suffixes, namely the original suffix -assus and the suffix -n, which means by the false division of words with adjective and participle stems ending in the suffix -n. It is, in turn, derived from the Old English word efnes, which was later spelt as efen -nys. Both these words, namely efnes and efen -nys, mean evenness.
