Thatnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being that particular thing or entity
2. the essence or inherent characteristics that define an object or concept
3. a term used to discuss the distinct attributes that differentiate one subject from another

Etymology: The plural noun in question traces back to the philosophical concept of "thatness," which is a term formed by the addition of the suffix "-ness" to the demonstrative pronoun "that." This suffix has Old English roots, commonly used to transform adjectives or pronouns into abstract nouns expressing a state or quality. Here, "that" refers to a specific thing or entity, and "-ness" turns it into the abstract idea of the essence or quality of "that" thing. The emergence of "thatness" is closely tied to scholastic and philosophical discourse, particularly within metaphysics. It serves to denote the intrinsic nature or the "what it is" of an object—its essence as distinct from its existence or the way it appears. This idea parallels the more familiar "whatness," which explores the defining characteristics that make something what it is, but "thatness" emphasizes the particularity or this-ness of a thing, sometimes referred to by the Latin term "haecceity." While the singular form has been in philosophical use since at least the early modern period, the plural "thatnesses" is a natural morphological extension to talk about multiple such essences or qualities. It allows philosophers and literary theorists to discuss several distinct entities’ unique essences collectively. The plural form carries the same abstract and somewhat specialized connotation as the singular but emphasizes multiplicity. In summary, the word derives from a straightforward English morphological construction but is rooted in complex philosophical ideas about identity and essence. Its use remains largely confined to specialized contexts where precise discussion of the nature of particular things is required.