speechlessness en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English speechless 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 speechlessness From speechless + -ness.
Meanings
-
The state of being speechless.
'No - rather not, my dear? Well, another night,' he said, hastily translating her speechlessness.
1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 233:It was her virtue to be tall, pale, characterless and effaced by partial speechlessness.
1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 16:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| speechlessnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (7)
de Stummheit (state of being speechless) · af spraakloosheid (state of being speechless) · grc ἀλαλία (state of being speechless) · eo senparoleco (state of being speechless) · eo muteco (state of being speechless) · de Sprachlosigkeit (state of being speechless) · hi निःशब्दता (state of being speechless)