Opaquenesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being not able to be seen through; the degree to which light is blocked or absorbed by a substance; instances or examples of such characteristics in varying contexts
2. The condition of an object that prevents light from passing through it; the extent to which visibility is hindered within different materials; multiple occurrences of this property found in different scenarios
3. A measure of how much light cannot penetrate a material; the level of clarity or transparency that is lacking; various examples showcasing this lack of clarity across different objects

Etymology: "Opaquenesses" is simply the plural of "opaqueness," the noun for the quality of being opaque. The base word "opaque" came into English from Middle French "opaque," which was itself borrowed from Latin "opacus," meaning shaded or shadowy. Latin "opacus" is the source of the light-blocking sense, and English had already been using "opaque" in that sense before the suffix was attached. The noun is formed by adding the English suffix "-ness" to "opaque," a very productive pattern that turns adjectives into nouns describing a quality. That suffix descends from Old English "-nes," which in turn traces back through Proto-Germanic to a very old root. The plural "opaquenesses" follows the regular pattern for nouns ending in "-ness," and it is used when speaking of several distinct instances or degrees of opacity.

Synonyms: opacity, cloudiness

Antonyms: transparency, clarity