Bluntness
/ˈblʌnt.nəs/noun
The quality of being blunt, especially in speech, manner, or shape.
Did you know?Bluntness comes from a Germanic word family meaning “dull” or “stupid,” and in Middle English it could describe both a dull blade and a dull, unsophisticated manner.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*bluntaz
“dull, blunted, not sharp”
Old Norse
ON
blundr
“dull, dim; a dazed state”
Middle English
ME
blunt
“dull-edged; rough, coarse; later, abrupt in speech”
16th Century
English
blunt
“dull in edge, point, or force; plain-spoken”
Modern English
English
bluntness
“the quality of being blunt or direct”