speechlessness

English

Etymology

speechless +‎ -ness

Noun

speechlessness (plural speechlessnesses)

  1. The state of being speechless.
    • 1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 233:
      'No - rather not, my dear? Well, another night,' he said, hastily translating her speechlessness.
    • 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1965, →OCLC, page 16:
      It was her virtue to be tall, pale, characterless and effaced by partial speechlessness.

Usage notes
  • Plural is rare.

Translations
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