tentativeness en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English tentative 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 tentativeness From tentative + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The characteristic of being tentative.
There are also some delightful love scenes between Jean and Esther. Russ does an excellent job of capturing the blend of excitement, tentativeness and panic present in the culmination of something so lusted after and so feared.
1982 February 6, Judy Stern, “Striking Out”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 28, page 9:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tentativenesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |