defensiveness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /dɪˈfɛnsɪvnəs/ (UK)
Etymology
Etymology tree English defensive 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 defensiveness From defensive + -ness.
Meanings
-
(uncountable, usually) The state or quality of being defensive.
The gay vs. straight confrontation has been dealt with before in movies and plays but never with the gay character in control and never so free of defensiveness or homosexual guilt.
1976 February 7, Don Shewey, “Haunted Host (review)”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 32, page 14:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| defensivenesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (5)
hu elhárítás (state or quality) · hu hárítás (state or quality) · hu defenzivitás (state or quality) · fi defensiivisyys (state or quality) · hu védekezés (state or quality)