unwellness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ʌnˈwɛl.nəs/ (UK, US)
- /ʌnˈwɛl.nɪs/ (UK, US)
Etymology
Etymology tree English unwell 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 unwellness From unwell + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable) The state or characteristic of being unwell; a feeling of slight to moderate sickliness.
During the three years and eight months whilst we resided in London, I did less scientific work, though I worked as hard as I possibly could, than during any other equal length of time in my life. This was owing to frequently recurring unwellness, and to one long and serious illness.
1887, Charles Darwin, chapter 5, in The Autobiography of Charles Darwin: