protectiveness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /pɹəˈtɛktɪvnəs/ (US)
- /pɹoʊˈtɛktɪvnəs/ (US)
Etymology
Etymology tree Medieval Latin prōtēctīvusbor. English protective Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną 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 protectiveness From protective + -ness.
Meanings
- (uncountable) The quality of being protective.
- (uncountable) A desire to be protective and to guard against physical or emotional harm.
Deriveds
overprotectiveness · gastroprotectiveness · atheroprotectiveness · vindictive protectiveness