deadness
|dead-ness|
/ˈdɛdnəs/
absence of life or responsiveness
Etymology
'deadness' originates from English, formed from the adjective 'dead' + the suffix '-ness', where the suffix '-ness' indicated a 'state or quality'.
'dead' changed from Old English 'dēad' (from Proto-Germanic '*daudaz') and later combined with the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to produce 'deadness' in Middle/Modern English.
Initially, 'dead' meant 'lifeless' or 'without life'; over time the root sense of 'absence of life' remained, while derived nouns like 'deadness' also came to be used for figurative senses such as lack of feeling or activity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state of being dead; the condition of lacking life.
The deadness of the field after the frost was obvious.
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Noun 2
a lack of physical sensation or responsiveness (numbness).
She complained of a deadness in her fingertips after the long flight.
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Noun 3
a state of inactivity, dullness, or lack of liveliness (in speech, sound, or an environment).
The deadness in his voice made the announcement less convincing.
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Last updated: 2025/09/14 14:55