Remarkableness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. the quality or state of being extraordinary or noteworthy | an exceptional nature that stands out due to its significant traits | a characteristic that makes something worthy of attention or admiration
  2. the quality of being outstanding in a way that captures interest | an extraordinary attribute that distinguishes something from the ordinary | the state of having remarkable features that warrant distinction and recognition
  3. the state of possessing extraordinary qualities that attract interest and admiration

Etymology: This noun derives from the adjective "remarkable," which itself traces back to the late Middle English period. The adjective began appearing around the 15th century, formed by the prefix "re-" combined with "mark," originally meaning "to mark" or "to notice." The prefix "re-" here intensifies the action, so "remarkable" literally means "worthy of being noticed again" or "noteworthy." The root "mark" comes from Old English "mearc," meaning boundary or sign, which evolved into the verb "to mark," signifying the act of making a visible impression or symbol. Thus, the adjective "remarkable" encapsulates the idea of something so striking or unusual that it deserves special attention. The noun form in question is a later development, formed by adding the nominalizing suffix "-ness" to "remarkable," allowing the abstract quality or state of being remarkable to be expressed. This formation follows a common pattern in English, where adjectives are turned into nouns to discuss the concept or degree of the adjective's quality. While the adjective "remarkable" has been in use for several centuries, the noun form likely gained currency during the 17th or 18th century, as English vocabulary expanded to express more abstract notions in philosophy, literature, and science. The resulting noun captures the essence of what it means for something to stand out, to be extraordinary or worthy of notice, in a more general, conceptual form.

Synonyms: noteworthiness, extraordinariness

Antonyms: ordinariness, commonness