corrosiveness
|cor-ros-ive-ness|
🇺🇸
/kəˈrɑːsɪvnəs/
🇬🇧
/kəˈrɒsɪvnəs/
gradual eating away (chemical or figurative)
Etymology
'corrosiveness' ultimately originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'corrodere' (from 'com-' intensifying + 'rodere' meaning 'to gnaw'), where the sense is 'to gnaw or eat away'.
'corrodere' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'corrosivus' meaning 'gnawing, corroding', then through French and Middle English forms influenced the adjective 'corrosive', and the noun 'corrosiveness' developed in modern English by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness'.
Initially it meant 'to gnaw or eat away' in a literal physical sense; over time it kept that primary chemical sense and also developed figurative uses meaning 'to undermine or damage gradually.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being corrosive; the tendency to cause gradual chemical destruction or wearing away of materials (especially metals) by reaction.
The corrosiveness of the acid made it unsuitable for storing in ordinary steel containers.
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Noun 2
figurative tendency to undermine, damage, or eat away at something non-physical (e.g., relationships, institutions, morale).
The corrosiveness of persistent distrust gradually weakened the department's teamwork.
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Last updated: 2025/10/23 07:09