Dogginess

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of exhibiting traits commonly associated with a domesticated canine, such as loyalty, playfulness, or stubbornness; the characteristic appearance or demeanor resembling that of a dog; an abstract description of behaviors or features reminiscent of dogs
2. A condition or set of attributes reflecting dog-like nature, including faithfulness or eagerness; the tangible or intangible aspects that make something or someone suggestive of a dog; an expression of identifiable canine-like qualities in personality or form
3. The essence or degree of possessing features typical to dogs, whether in temperament or look; the metaphorical or literal indication of dog's nature within a person, object, or action; a descriptor for attributes linking back to familiar dog characteristics

Etymology: "Dogginess" is a plain formation: the adjective "doggy," meaning dog-like or having the qualities of a dog, with the suffix "-ness" added to turn it into a noun for a state or quality. "Doggy" itself is built from "dog" plus the diminutive-style "-y," so the word is one step removed from the animal's name, with two English suffixes doing the work. The "-ness" suffix is one of the oldest and most productive ways English makes abstract nouns from adjectives, and it has been attached to native words since Old English. Pairing it with "doggy" gives a noun that can describe a person's scruffy, loyal, or fawning manner, or the look of a thing that seems to share a dog's character. The word therefore names a quality rather than an animal.

Synonyms: dog-likeness, canineness, dog nature, dog quality, dog characteristic

Antonyms: cat-likeness, feline nature, cat characteristic