Cantingness

/ˈkæntɪŋnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality of being canting; the state or characteristic of speaking hypocritically or sanctimoniously.

Etymology

From canting (adjective) plus -ness, creating a noun that denotes the abstract quality. This is a productive formation in English, doubling the suffix layers from the original cant.

Kelly Says

While 'cantiness' and 'cantingness' are technically different formations, both capture something important: the English language's obsession with naming and calling out fake piety, especially during the industrial age when hypocrisy flourished.

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