shortness

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈʃɔrtnəs/ See IPA manual

noun 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

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

# 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

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