Churchliness

/ˈtʃɜːtʃlinəs/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being appropriate to or characteristic of a church; religious solemnity and propriety.

Etymology

From churchly + -ness (a suffix forming abstract nouns denoting qualities or states). The -ness suffix comes from Old English -nes and is the most productive way to nominalize adjectives in English.

Kelly Says

The -ness suffix is so old and productive that we barely notice it—almost any adjective can take it (happy→happiness, blue→blueness), but some combinations sound wrong (we say 'beauty' not 'beautifulishness'), showing that productivity has limits.

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