highness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈhaɪnəs/
Etymology
From Middle English hyghnesse; equivalent to high + -ness.
Meanings
-
(uncountable, usually) The state of being high.
'It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do?' It is as the highnesses of heaven: take all the heights and elevations, all the spheres and altitudes of heaven, and try if thou canst reach them with thy short arm; yea, climb up the highest storeys, the loftiest pinnacles, […]
1672, George Swinnock, The Incomparableness of God:
- (uncountable, usually) A title of respect when referring to a prince or princess.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| highnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| 'ighness | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic | |
| highnesse | alternative, archaic | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Her Serene Highness · His Serene Highness
Translations (7)
la celsitudo (state of being high) · eo moŝto (title for royalty) · ca altesa (title for royalty) · fr altesse (state of being high) · fi korkeus (state of being high) · sv höghet (state of being high) · fi ylhäisyys (state of being high)