Dourness
/ˈdʊər.nəs/noun
The quality of being stern, gloomy, or unyieldingly serious.
Did you know?The root behind *dour* is linked to hardness and toughness, not “dark magic,” but the emotional effect is so severe that it became a perfect word for grim, closed-off energy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dreu-
“to be hard, firm, or solid”
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*durus
“hard, severe”
Old Irish
OIr
dúr
“hard, harsh”
Middle English
ME
dour
“stern, hard, severe”
Modern English
English
dourness
“the state or quality of being dour”