Expletiveness

/ɪkˈsplɛtɪvnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being expletive; the characteristic of serving as an expletive.

Etymology

From expletive + -ness suffix, which creates nouns expressing quality or state (like happiness, sadness).

Kelly Says

The -ness suffix is so productive in English that you can theoretically add it to any adjective, but expletiveness is rarely used—people just say 'profanity' instead of inventing abstract nouns.

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