shortness B2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈʃɔrtnəs/ See IPA manual Freq #27668 Meanings 1 noun The quality of being small in length, distance, or height. He was teased about the shortness of his legs. 2 noun The quality of lasting only a brief time. Everyone complained about the shortness of the holiday. 3 noun A brief, slightly rude manner of speaking. I was surprised by the shortness of her reply. Thesaurus Synonyms 3 noun · a brief, slightly rude... abruptness Etymology AI details From Middle English schortnesse, from Old English sċortnes, sċeortnys, equivalent to short + -ness. schortnesse Middle English sċortnes Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Mathematics & Measurement External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # shortness **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈʃɔrtnəs/ **Frequency rank:** 27668 ## Meanings 1. The quality of being small in length, distance, or height. 2. The quality of lasting only a brief time. 3. A brief, slightly rude manner of speaking. ## Examples - He was teased about the shortness of his legs. - Everyone complained about the shortness of the holiday. - I was surprised by the shortness of her reply. ## Roots and Affixes - Root: schortnesse - Root: sċortnes ## Etymology From Middle English schortnesse, from Old English sċortnes, sċeortnys, equivalent to short + -ness. ## AI Etymology Shortness is from Middle English schortnesse, from Old English sċortnes, sċeortnys, equivalent to short + -ness. Important forms in the word's history include Middle English schortnesse, Old English sċortnes. In current use it includes senses such as The quality of being small in length, distance, or height and The quality of lasting only a brief time. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Mathematics & Measurement markdown