Complaisantness

/kəmˈpleɪzəntnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality of being complaisant; a disposition to be agreeable and willing to please.

Etymology

Formed from complaisant plus the noun-forming suffix -ness. This abstract noun construction became common in English during the 16th-17th centuries as speakers systematized vocabulary about character traits.

Kelly Says

Some virtues have multiple names that subtly differ: 'politeness,' 'courtesy,' and 'complaisantness' each imply different things about whether someone's kindness is genuine—language gives us tools to read between the lines.

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