loneness

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈloʊnnəs/ UK /ˈləʊnnəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
(literary) the state of being alone or solitary

He found a strange peace in the loneness of the moors.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · (literary) the state of... solitude loneliness aloneness isolation seclusion

Opposites

company companionship

Word family

Related forms lone lonely lonesome

Etymology

From lone (a shortening of alone, ultimately from Old English āna 'one, alone') + the noun-forming suffix -ness.

āna Old English -nes Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# loneness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈloʊnnəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈləʊnnəs/

## Meanings
1. (literary) the state of being alone or solitary

## Examples
- He found a strange peace in the loneness of the moors.

## Synonyms
- solitude
- loneliness
- aloneness
- isolation
- seclusion

## Antonyms
- company
- companionship

## Related Forms
- lone
- lonely
- lonesome

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: āna
- Root: -nes

## Etymology
From lone (a shortening of alone, ultimately from Old English āna 'one, alone') + the noun-forming suffix -ness.

## AI Etymology
Loneness comes from lone (a shortening of alone, ultimately from Old English āna 'one, alone') + the noun-forming suffix -ness. The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As a noun, it carries the sense "(literary) the state of being alone or solitary", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English āna and Old English -nes. Related words include lone, lonely, lonesome.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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