Placidities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of calmness and tranquility that evokes peace of mind
2. A quality of being undisturbed or serene in demeanor, often found in soothing environments
3. The characteristic of being free from agitation or disturbance, reflecting a gentle and composed attitude

Etymology: "Placidities" is simply the plural of "placidity," so it is the form of "placidity" used when speaking of several separate states of calm. The noun itself is built from "placid" and the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or condition. "Placid" comes from Latin "placidus," meaning gentle, mild or peaceful, and the Latin noun "placiditas" carried the sense of mildness and calm. The English noun "placidity" follows the pattern of many words borrowed from Latin, where "-itas" became "-ity" in English and attached to adjectives to name their qualities. Its plural form reflects the way English nouns of this kind can be counted, so that each distinct spell of tranquillity can be treated as its own "placidity."