aghastness en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English aghast Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English aghastness From aghast + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable) The state or quality of being aghast.
Sugar cocks her head, in a mute gesture of aghastness.
2002, Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White, Canongate Books (2010), page 295: