Littleness
/ˈlɪt.l.nəs/noun
The state or quality of being little; smallness.
Did you know?“Little” traces back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning “small” or “few,” and its long history shows how languages can turn physical size into a social judgment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*lītilaz
“small; little”
Old English
OE
lytel
“small, little”
Middle English
ME
litel
“small, slight”
Late Middle English
English
littelnesse
“smallness; the quality of being little”
Modern English
English
littleness
“the quality or state of being little”
Explore more surprising origins