Tardinesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being late or not arriving at the expected time
2. Instances or occurrences of being delayed in one's actions or commitments
3. A situation in which punctuality is not observed, leading to lateness in various contexts

Etymology: Tardinesses is simply the plural of "tardiness," a noun built from the adjective "tardy" and the suffix "-ness." The adjective "tardy" came into English from Old French "tardif," itself from Latin "tardus," meaning slow or late, so the whole word carries a sense of slowness at its core. The suffix "-ness" is a native English formation, descended from Old English "-nes," which turns an adjective into a noun naming a quality or state. "Tardiness" therefore names the state of being late, and its plural counts separate instances of that state. The plural is the form the grammar requires when a writer wants to speak of several occasions of lateness rather than the general condition. Because "tardiness" is an uncountable-leaning abstract noun, the plural is less common than the singular and typically appears when a writer wants to tally individual episodes, as in records of repeated late arrivals.

Synonyms: lateness, delays, procrastination, sluggishness, dawdling

Antonyms: punctuality, promptness, timeliness, speediness, quickness