Amorousness

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæ.mə.ɹəs.nəs/

Definitions

1. A condition marked by deep romantic desire and attraction
2. An emotional state highlighting intense affection or romantic intent towards another
3. The quality or state of having strong feelings of love or desire toward someone

Etymology: Amorousness is a plain formation: the adjective "amorous" with the suffix "-ness" attached. The suffix comes from Old English "-nes", which is among the oldest productive English endings, and it has been used to turn adjectives into nouns of state or quality for more than a thousand years. Through Middle English "-nesse" it reached its modern spelling, so "amorousness" is simply the quality of being amorous. The adjective it rests on carries the older history. "Amorous" passed into English from Old French and Medieval Latin, and its root is the Latin "amor", meaning love. The Latin word belongs to a family of words for affection and desire, and the English noun gives the modern sense a direct link to that ancient root.

Synonyms: romanticism, passion, infatuation, desire, love

Antonyms: indifference, disinterest, apathy, unaffectionate, coldness