stillness
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English
Alternative forms
- stillnesse (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English stilnesse, from Old English stilnes (“stillness, quiet; absence of noise or disturbance, release, relaxation; silence, abstention from speech; absence of disturbance or molestation, tranquility, peace, security; that which appeases”), equivalent to still + -ness.
Pronunciation
Noun
stillness (countable and uncountable, plural stillnesses)
- The quality or state of being still.
- Synonyms: calmness, motionlessness, inactivity, inertia
- Habitual silence or quiet; taciturnity.
- c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 320:
- The grauitie, and ſtillneſſe of your youth / The world hath noted.
- 1977, Stevie Nicks (lyrics and music), “Dreams”, in Rumours, performed by Fleetwood Mac:
- Like a heartbeat drives you mad / In the stillness of remembering what you had / And what you lost
Translations
quality or state of being still
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References
- “stillness”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.