nonmusicalness
|non-mu-sic-al-ness|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˈmjuːzɪkəlnəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˈmjuːzɪk(ə)lnəs/
absence of musical quality
Etymology
'nonmusicalness' originates from English, formed by the negative prefix 'non-' + the adjective 'musical' + the nominalizing suffix '-ness'. 'musical' ultimately derives from Latin and Greek roots related to 'music'.
'nonmusicalness' developed by attaching the prefix 'non-' to Middle English 'musical' (from Old French/Latin roots 'musicalis'/'musicus', ultimately from Greek 'mousikos'), and then adding the suffix '-ness' to form a noun meaning 'the state of not being musical'.
Initially, 'musical' meant 'relating to music or the Muses'; with the addition of 'non-' the word denotes negation (not musical), and with '-ness' it expresses the state or quality of that negation—i.e., 'the absence of musical quality'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or quality of lacking musical ability or sensibility; inability to perceive or produce music well.
His nonmusicalness became clear when he could not carry a tune.
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Noun 2
the absence of musical qualities in something (for example, a performance, composition, or atmosphere).
The nonmusicalness of the speech made it feel flat and mechanical.
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Last updated: 2025/11/08 04:18