Exuberantness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being enthusiastically lively, energetic, and abundantly joyful in expression or manner
2. The state of being filled with lively energy, high spirits, and abundant joy in expression or behavior
3. A condition characterized by enthusiastic vigor, boundless energy, and a vibrant expression of happiness

Etymology: "Exuberantness" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "exuberant" with the English suffix "-ness" attached, which turns an adjective into a noun meaning "the state or quality of being" that adjective. So the noun names the quality of exuberance itself rather than any single lively act. The adjective "exuberant" comes from Latin "exuberans," the present participle of "exuberare," meaning "to be abundant" or "to overflow," built from "ex-" ("out") and "uberare" ("to be fertile"), from "uber" ("udder" or "richness"). The original sense was of fertile growth, a field or harvest overflowing with produce, and the emotional sense of high spirits developed later in English. The suffix "-ness" is native English, descended from Old English "-nes," and it has been used freely to form nouns from adjectives for centuries. That productivity explains why this noun exists alongside the more common "exuberance."

Synonyms: enthusiasm, vitality, vivacity, energy, cheerfulness

Antonyms: apathy, indifference, sadness, gloom, melancholy