blackness

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
  2. noun total absence of light

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English blaknesse, equivalent to black + -ness. Sense 5 most likely both originated from the masque The Masque of Blackness by Ben Jonson and later changed to its current positive sense.

In classic literature

Synonyms

black, inkiness

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