blackness
UK: ˈblæknəs | US: ˈblæknəs
n. the quality or state of being black in color
n. darkness or absence of light
n. (figurative) gloom, melancholy, or evil
The word "blackness" combines the Old English root "blæc" (meaning "dark" or "ink-colored") with the suffix "-ness," which forms abstract nouns denoting a state or condition. "Blæc" traces back to Proto-Germanic *blakaz ("burned" or "shiny"), possibly linked to the concept of charred objects. Over time, "black" expanded from literal color to metaphorical meanings like gloom or moral darkness. The suffix "-ness" (from Old English "-nes") is a productive morpheme in English, turning adjectives into nouns (e.g., "darkness," "kindness").
The blackness of the night sky was punctuated only by distant stars.
Her paintings often explore themes of blackness and identity.
The cave’s utter blackness made it impossible to see without a flashlight.
His mood shifted to a deep blackness after the tragic news.
The artist used layers of ink to achieve a rich blackness in the portrait.