Oldnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of having existed for a long time ; the condition of being aged or elderly ; the characteristic traits associated with long duration or advanced years
2. A state marked by prolonged existence or advanced age ; the attribute of being longstanding or timeworn ; features commonly attributed to great age or maturity
3. The attribute relating to the passage of extensive time ; the condition reflecting advanced years or duration ; the essence of age-related characteristics or traditional qualities

Etymology: "Oldnesses" is simply the plural of "oldness," so it is the form of that noun used when speaking of several instances of age or antiquity. The noun itself is a plain English formation: "old" with the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. Its ancestor is the Old English "ealdnes" or "ealdnyss," meaning "oldness" or "age," built from the same stem as the adjective "eald," which is the source of modern "old." The suffix "-ness" has been productive in English since Old English, and "oldness" passed into Middle English as "oldnesse." The Old English form is only possibly the direct ancestor, so the exact line of descent is not fully settled, though the root and suffix are clear.

Synonyms: ages, antiquities, senescences

Antonyms: youths, newnesses, novelties