Bumpinesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of having an uneven surface or texture characterized by multiple irregularities or protrusions
2. A state of being marked by numerous jolts or bumps that can cause discomfort or instability
3. The presence of various elevations and depressions that result in a rough and uneven area, affecting movement or experience

Etymology: This is the plural of "bumpiness", so it is simply the form that counts multiple instances of that quality. "Bumpiness" is formed from "bumpy" plus the suffix "-ness", which turns an adjective into a noun for a state or quality. "Bumpy" itself comes from "bump" with the suffix "-y", meaning "full of" or "having the character of", so something bumpy is full of bumps. The suffix "-ness" has a long history in English. It descends from Old English "-nes", a noun-forming ending that appears in words such as "goodness" and "darkness", and it was used freely to make new nouns from adjectives. That productivity explains why "bumpiness" could be formed so readily from "bumpy" without needing a special coinage.

Synonyms: roughnesses, irregularities

Antonyms: smoothnesses