Invisibilities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The qualities or states of being unseen or not visible; characteristics associated with elements that cannot be perceived by the eyes
2. The abstract concept or condition in which certain objects or phenomena cannot be detected visually; features that elude visual perception
3. Descriptions of aspects related to things that are hidden from sight or incapable of being observed; attributes of the imperceptible

Etymology: "Invisibilities" is simply the plural of "invisibility", so it is the form of the noun that refers to particular instances or kinds of the quality. The base word came into English from Middle French "invisibilité", which in turn was taken from the Latin "invisibilitas", a noun built from "invisibilis" (not visible) with the suffix "-itas", which turns an adjective into a quality noun. The Latin "invisibilis" combines the negative prefix "in-" with "visibilis", from "videre", to see. The plural form is used when writers want to name several distinct kinds of hiddenness rather than the quality in general, as in discussions of the different ways things escape notice or detection.