deadness

deadness

English

Etymology

dead +‎ -ness

Noun

deadness (usually uncountable, plural deadnesses)

1. The state of not being alive. Having the property of lifelessness, as if dead.
   • 1840, John Wesley, The Works of the Reverend John Wesley, A.M, page 334:

     O may it be my constant care to watch and pray; the neglect of which was the chief cause of my former deadness.

2. A lack of elasticity.

   He complained that the deadness of the balls affected his game.

3. A lack of sparkle in a fizzy drink.

   The deadness of the champagne made it undrinkable.

4. A lack of animation in a person.

   The deadness of his expression told everything, without him having to speak.

Synonyms

The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the templates {{syn|en|...}} or {{ant|en|...}} to add them to the appropriate sense(s).

• inertness
• inanimateness
• inelasticity