Chillinesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state or quality of being uncomfortably cold or lacking warmth
2. The experience of feeling coolness, often leading to discomfort or the need for heat
3. Multiple instances of a cold sensation that can evoke a sense of discomfort or provoke a desire for warmth

Etymology: Chillinesses is simply the plural of "chilliness," which is "chilliness" plus the suffix "-ness," a formation English has used since Old English to turn adjectives into nouns of state. "Chilly" is the adjective, built from "chill" with the suffix "-y," so the plural counts separate experiences of that state, like separate cold snaps or moments of feeling cold. The base word "chill" traces back to Old English "ceale," meaning cold or coldness, which in turn belongs to a Germanic stock that reaches into other northern languages. Over time, "chill" moved from describing a physical temperature to describing a sensation felt in the body, and then to a mood, as in a chill that runs through a room or a crowd.

Synonyms: coldness, coolness

Antonyms: warmth