Clumsinesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being awkward or uncoordinated in movement or action
2. A tendency to move or act in a way that is not smooth or controlled, causing accidents or errors
3. The characteristic of displaying awkward or ungainly physical behavior that may lead to mishaps

Etymology: "Clumsinesses" is the plural of "clumsiness," which is simply the noun "clumsy" with the suffix "-ness" attached. The suffix comes from Old English "-nes," a form that traces back to Proto-Germanic and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European roots, and it was used to turn adjectives into nouns of quality or state. Adding "-ness" to "clumsy" yields "clumsiness," the condition of being awkward in movement or action. The plural form "clumsinesses" appears where writers want to refer to several distinct instances or kinds of clumsiness rather than the general quality. Because "-ness" nouns are abstract, they resist plurals in ordinary speech, so the plural usually signals a deliberate turn toward individual episodes of awkwardness, such as a list of small mishaps.

Synonyms: awkwardness, bumbling, gawky, inelegance, sloppiness

Antonyms: gracefulness, poise, elegance