Cantankerousness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A condition marked by a quarrelsome temperament and frequent irritability
2. The quality of being frequently argumentative and easily annoyed
3. A temperament characterized by constant grumpiness and readiness to dispute

Etymology: Cantankerousness is a plain English formation: the adjective "cantankerous" with the suffix "-ness" added to turn a quality into a noun. The suffix itself has a long pedigree. It descends from a Germanic element that appears in Old English as "-nes" and passed through Middle English "-nesse" into the modern form, making it one of the oldest working parts of the word. The adjective is the more interesting half. "Cantankerous" is a word of uncertain origin, and it appeared in English in the 1700s as a colloquial term for a quarrelsome, ill-tempered person or manner. Its precise source is unclear, so the adjective's story is best understood as a piece of informal speech that took on a sharp, grumbling sound. Adding "-ness" gave writers a way to name the state itself, rather than only the person who displayed it. The noun thus describes a settled condition of irritability, the trait that the adjective simply attributes to someone.

Synonyms: grumpiness, irascibility, bad-temper, grouchiness, crossness

Antonyms: cheerfulness, agreeableness, friendliness, good-naturedness, sociability