Dumbnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being unable to speak due to a physical condition
2. A condition characterized by a lack of speech or verbal communication abilities
3. The quality of being unable to articulate thoughts or express oneself verbally

Etymology: "Dumbnesses" is the plural of "dumbness," which comes from Middle English "dombenesse," itself from Old English "dumbnes." The Old English form was built from "dumb," meaning unable to speak, plus the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun for a state or quality. Old Frisian had a close cousin, "dumbnisse," which carried the sense of folly as well as muteness, a reminder that the two ideas once sat side by side. The plural is the more unusual part. Mass nouns like "dumbness" normally resist pluralizing, since we speak of dumbness as a condition rather than as countable instances. Pluralizing it treats each separate lapse or episode of speechlessness as a countable case, which gives the form a slightly playful or literary feel.

Synonyms: muteness, silences

Antonyms: speech, articulation