Vehemencies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state or quality of being forceful and passionate in expression or action
2. Characterizing a strong emotional intensity that can be persuasive or overwhelming
3. Describing an intense fervor or enthusiasm in response to events or ideas

Etymology: "Vehemencies" is the plural of "vehemency", a noun meaning strong passionate feeling. The singular was borrowed from Latin "vehementia", which is built from "vehemens", "forceful" or "violent", the root of the modern English "vehement". Its own ancestry is uncertain, though it is often connected to "vehere", "to carry", as in "to be carried along" by one's feelings. The plural form is less common than the singular, and it is used when the word refers to separate instances or kinds of intense feeling rather than the quality in general. Each time the plural appears, it counts individual outbursts of passion as distinct things, which is a natural extension of a noun for an abstract quality.

Synonyms: intensity, passion, fervor, ardor, zeal

Antonyms: calmness, indifference, apathy, mildness, composure