shortness

noun

short·​ness

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being short in length, distance, or duration : brevity

the shortness of his fingers

the shortness of the trip

the shortness of the days in winter

2

a

obsolete : conciseness

your plainness and your shortness please me well

—Shakespeare

b

: abruptness, curtness

our anger changed to glumness and shortness with each other

—A. R. Matthews

3

: defectiveness of range or vision

the shortness of his sight

4

of metals : brittleness

5

: deficiency, scantiness

the shortness of provisions

hampered by a shortness of money

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shortnesse, from short + -nesse -ness

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Kids Definition

shortness

noun

short·​ness

ˈshȯrt-nəs

: the quality or state of being short

shortness of breath