Condignness

/kənˈdaɪnnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality of being condign; the state of being appropriate or deserved, especially regarding punishment.

Etymology

From condign plus -ness suffix. English permits multiple noun forms from the same root (condignness, condignity, condigness), creating synonyms with slightly different registers.

Kelly Says

English speakers faced a choice between 'condignness,' 'condignity,' and 'condigness'—three ways to say the same thing—which is why most of these words eventually disappeared in favor of simpler 'deserve' and 'merit.'

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