Gloominesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state characterized by a pervasive darkness or sadness that envelops a person or situation
2. The quality of being clouded, dreary, or lacking in brightness and cheerfulness
3. An atmosphere or condition that evokes feelings of melancholy, discouragement, or desolation

Etymology: The plural "gloominesses" is the plural of "gloominess," which is simply "gloomy" with the suffix "-ness" attached. "Gloomy" itself comes from the Middle English "gloom," a verb-based noun meaning to look sullen or to be dim, so the word's sense of darkness and low spirits runs back to a much older idea of dimness. The suffix does the grammatical heavy lifting. "-ness" descends from Old English "-nes," which turned adjectives into nouns naming a state or quality, and it has been used this way since the earliest English. Adding it to "gloomy" yields "gloominess," the condition of being gloomy, and "gloominesses" is the plural form used when several separate instances of that condition are meant.

Synonyms: darkness, dismalness, melancholy, sadness, depression

Antonyms: brightness, cheerfulness, happiness, joyfulness, lightness