Mustinesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of having a stale or damp odor
2. instances of being characterized by a lack of freshness and cleanliness
3. the condition of a space or substance that has been adversely affected by mold or decay

Etymology: "Mustinesses" is simply the plural of "mustiness," so it is a form of "mustiness" rather than a separate word with its own history. The plural is rarely used, since English speakers usually talk about mustiness as a general quality, though it appears when several musty smells or instances are being distinguished. "Mustiness" is formed from "musty" plus the abstract noun suffix "-ness," which English has attached to adjectives since Old English. "Musty" dates to the 1500s and is probably linked to "must," the unfermented grape juice, or to "mould" in its older sense of mould growth, which is why the word carries its association with damp decay. The base word is the one with the more interesting trail, and "mustiness" follows it straightforwardly.

Synonyms: staleness, moldiness

Antonyms: freshness, cleanliness