Dictionary

fewness en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English few 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 fewness From few + -ness.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The state, quality, or condition of being few.
   • They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the fewness of their enemies, came down amain. 1670, John Milton, The History of Britain, that Part especially now called England; from the first traditional Beginning, continued to the Norman Conquest. Collected out of the antientest and best Authours thereof, The Second Book:
   • There are, says the Irish triad, 'three fewnesses that are better than plenty: a fewness of fine words; a fewness of cows on grass; a fewness of good friends around good ale'. As an Ulsterman I would agree. 2000, David Pierce, Irish Writing in the Twentieth Century: A Reader, page 625:

Forms

Antonyms

manyness · oneness

Hypernyms

state

Synonyms

fewness · scantiness · paucity

Translations (10)

ru малочи́сленность (state of being few) · sv fåtalighet (state of being few) · fi vähyys (state of being few) · bg малобро́йност (state of being few) · ota قلت (state of being few) · la paucitās (state of being few) · ar قِلَّة (state of being few) · pt pouquidade (state of being few) · ga laghad (state of being few) · eo malmulteco (state of being few)