daftness

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English daft

Proto-Germanic *-in-

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti

Proto-Germanic *-ōną

Proto-Germanic *-inōną

Proto-Indo-European *-dyé-der.

Proto-Germanic *-atjaną

Proto-Indo-European *-tus

Proto-Germanic *-þuz

Proto-Germanic *-assuz

Proto-Germanic *-inassuz

Proto-West Germanic *-nassī

Old English -nes

Middle English -nesse

English -ness

English daftness

From daft + -ness.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɑːftnəs/, /ˈdæftnəs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdæftnəs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

daftness (countable and uncountable, plural daftnesses)

1. Property of being daft.
   • 1919, John Buchan, “chapter 8”, in Mr Standfast:

     There's no end to their daftness if they once start on that track. A lawfu' trade's a lawfu' trade, says I, and it's contrary to public policy to pit it at the mercy of wheen cranks. D'ye no agree, sir? By the way, I havena got your name?

2. (countable) Something that is daft.