ness

See also: Ness and -ness

English

WOTD – 18 August 2010

Etymology

From Middle English nesse (in placenames), from Old English ness, næss, from Proto-Germanic *nasją (promontory; ness); cognate with Middle Low German nes, Icelandic nes, Swedish näs, Danish næs, Old Norse nes. Related to nose.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: nĕs, IPA(key): /nɛs/
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Noun

ness (plural nesses)

  1. (geography) A promontory; a cape or headland. (Frequently used as a suffix in placenames.)
    • 1958, Eric Rücker Eddison, Zimiamvian Trilogy, volume 3, The Mezentian Gate, page 177:
      Velvraz Sebarm stands upon the lake, among orange-trees and pomegranates and almonds and peaches of the south, a mile north-west over the water from Zayana town, and two miles by land: an old castle built of honey-coloured marble at the tip of a long sickle-shaped ness that sweeps round southwards, with wild gardens running down in the rocks to the water’s edge, and behind the castle a wood of holm-oaks making a wind-break against the north.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

Anagrams

Vilamovian

Etymology

From Middle High German neʒʒe, from Old High German nazī (wetness). Cognate with German Nässe

Noun

ness f (plural nessa)

  1. rainy weather
  2. wetness
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