Fitfulness

/ˈfɪtfəlnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being fitful; the characteristic of happening in irregular bursts or starts and stops.

Etymology

From fitful plus the noun-forming suffix '-ness,' which creates abstract nouns describing qualities. Common English pattern for nominalizing adjectives.

Kelly Says

The fitfulness of his breathing worried the doctor—that abstraction of an adjective into a noun lets doctors describe patient symptoms with clinical precision.

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