Freendlynesse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for the quality of being warm, kind and well disposed toward others
2. Old-fashioned word meaning goodwill, courtesy and a kindly, companionable manner toward people
3. Archaic noun for amiability, the gentle and benevolent character shown in one's dealings with others

Etymology: "Freendlynesse" is the Middle English spelling of what became "friendliness," built from the adjective "freendly" plus the suffix "-nesse," which turned a quality into a noun. The base "friend" comes from Old English "freond," and the "-ly" in "friendly" and the "-ness" in "-nesse" are both native English suffixes, so the word is a straightforward formation from native parts rather than a borrowing. Its spelling shows how Middle English writers handled sounds that had not yet settled. The "-nesse" ending was the usual form of the suffix before the Modern English "-ness" standardized, and the doubled "ee" and "ll" reflect the scribal habits of the period. Such variant spellings were common, and writers often chose spellings that suited their own dialect or the manuscript's conventions.