stillness
UK: ˈstɪlnəs | US: ˈstɪlnəs
n. the quality or state of being still; absence of movement or sound
n. calmness or tranquility
still<quiet> + ness<noun suffix>
- still: From Old English stille ("motionless, silent"), derived from Proto-Germanic stillijaz. Retains the core meaning of "lack of movement or noise."
- ness: A noun-forming suffix from Old English -nes, indicating a state or quality (e.g., darkness, happiness).
Etymology Origin:
The word stillness combines still, an ancient Germanic root for quietude, with -ness, a productive suffix in English for abstract nouns. The pairing logically extends the adjective still into a noun denoting the state of being calm or motionless. This construction reflects a straightforward Germanic pattern still active in modern English (e.g., sadness, kindness).
The stillness of the forest at dawn was almost eerie.
Meditation helps her find inner stillness.
The lake’s stillness mirrored the cloudless sky.
He paused, savoring the stillness after the storm.
The artist captured the stillness of the winter landscape.