Word Knowledge Answer

Yesterday I presented a Word Knowledge question.  This question referred to a suffix.  As an ASVAB tutor, I remind my students of the importance of studying prefixes, root words, and suffixes to prepare for the Word Knowledge section of the ASVAB.

The question is about the meaning of the suffix -ness.

There are many words in the English language with the suffix -ness.  Yesterday I presented examples of these words are wilderness, bumpiness, cheerfulness, happiness, listlessness, gregariousness, haughtiness, pettiness, wistfulness, etc.

The meaning of these words is listed below.

Bumpiness refers to the texture of a surface that has many bumps.

Cheerfulness is the quality or state of being happy and optimistic

Happiness is the state of being happy

Listlessness is the feeling of have no energy or enthusiasm

Gregariousness is the state of being friendly, outgoing, and sociable

Haughtiness is the quality of being arrogantly superior

Pettiness is the quality of being small-minded or spiteful in nature

Wistfulness is the emotional state of melancholy, longing, pensiveness, sadness.

The question is:

What does the suffix “ness” mean?

A. Able to

B. Without

C. Position

D. State or being

The suffix -ness means state, condition, or quality.

The correct answer is choice D. State or being