Nownesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The qualities or states of existing in the present moment ; multiple instances of immediate awareness or presence
2. Various manifestations of being in the here and now ; several occasions of conscious presentness
3. Different forms of direct present experience ; plural senses of living fully in the current moment

Etymology: The noun in question is a plural form derived from the base word "nowness," which itself is a somewhat rare and abstract noun related to the concept of the present moment. "Nowness" emerged in English as a way to express the quality or state of being "now," that is, the immediate present in time. While the adverb "now" has been part of English since Old English times, the transformation into a noun to encapsulate the essence of the present moment is a more modern development, likely gaining traction in philosophical and literary contexts. The suffix "-ness" is a common English nominalizing suffix that converts adjectives or adverbs into nouns expressing a state or quality. Thus, "nowness" literally means "the quality of now." This formation follows a general pattern in English where abstract concepts of time or state, such as "then-ness" or "nowness," are given noun forms to facilitate discussions in metaphysics, temporality, or poetry. The plural "nownesses" extends this abstraction to multiple instances or manifestations of present moments, perhaps in different contexts or perspectives. Although "nowness" and its plural are not widespread in everyday speech, they have appeared in philosophical writings and poetic explorations concerning time and existence. The concept touches on the elusive nature of the "present" as distinct from past and future, and pluralizing it allows for nuanced treatment of multiple "presents" or experiences of immediacy. The term is thus a linguistic tool to grapple with time’s fleeting quality. Etymologically, the root "now" is Old English "nū," with cognates in other Germanic languages, all meaning "at this moment." The addition of "-ness" to form "nowness" likely took place during the modern English period, when English expanded its capacity for abstract nouns. The plural form follows standard English grammar rules, simply adding "-es" to a noun ending in "-ness." While the word may appear unusual, it fits neatly within English’s flexible word-formation system for expressing abstract temporal concepts.

Synonyms: presentness, immediacy, currentness, timeliness, existence

Antonyms: pastness, futurity, absence, nonexistence, lateness