Funkiness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A distinctive quality that showcases unconventional style and charm
2. The quality of having a strong, unique character that stands out from the ordinary
3. An expression of originality and lively style that breaks away from the usual

Etymology: "Funkiness" is simply "funky" with the suffix "-ness" added, and the suffix is the older and more settled part of the word. "-ness" comes from Old English "-nes", a suffix that turns an adjective into a noun naming a quality, so "funkiness" names the state of being funky. The suffix has been attached to English adjectives for over a thousand years, which makes this a plain and productive formation rather than a special coinage. The adjective "funky" is the more colourful half. It comes from "funk", a word that once meant a strong smell or a stench, and "funky" originally described something that smelled bad, with a sense that drifted toward earthy or musty. Jazz musicians of the 1950s and 1960s borrowed the sense for music with a raw, soulful, gritty feel, and from there it spread to style and personality. Its earlier sense of rank smell survives in the lineage, which is why the modern meaning of charm and unconventionality sits so oddly with its origins.

Synonyms: grooviness, coolness

Antonyms: seriousness, dullness