The state or quality of being dishonorable, cowardly, or morally corrupt in one's essential character.
From basehearted + -ness (Old English suffix forming abstract nouns). This nominalization follows standard English word-formation patterns and emerged alongside the adjective basehearted.
The -ness suffix turns personality traits into abstract concepts we can discuss philosophically—baseheartedness isn't just doing one bad thing, it's the corrupted state of being itself, which is why it was such a serious accusation.
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