spinelessness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈspɑɪn.ləs.nəs/
Etymology
Etymology tree English spineless 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 spinelessness From spineless + -ness.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine (literally or figuratively)); cowardice.
Johnson's political spinelessness is a betrayal not just of the North, but the whole country, and its ramifications will wreak havoc with the life chances and prospects of generations to come.
2021 December 1, Nigel Harris, “IRP snuffs out 'levelling up'”, in RAIL, number 945, page 3:
Translations (10)
ru мягкоте́лость (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · de Rückgratlosigkeit (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · pl tchórzostwo (cowardice) · ru бесхара́ктерность (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · pl bezkręgowość (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · ru слабохара́ктерность (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · hu gerinctelenség (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · de Willenlosigkeit (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine)) · pl tchórzliwość (cowardice) · ru безво́лие (state or quality of being spineless (not having a spine))