DictionaryRoot: -itas
Latin

-itas

a quality or state

Forms

  • -itas
  • -itat- — Latin stem used outside the basic noun form.
  • -ity — English form developed through French.

Origin

Latin -tas, a suffix for abstract nouns, with a preceding i; the suffix continues an older Indo-European abstract-noun formation.

Note

Turns a description into something that can be discussed as a quality in its own right.

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A host smoothly introduces two guests to each other with a polished conversational gesture; graceful charm in social behavior, exactly three adults.
noun

suavity

SWAH-vuh-tee/ˈswɑvəti/

Smooth, gracious charm in manner.

Etymology

The pieces express the quality of being pleasant or agreeable. Earlier kindness and gentleness developed into polished outward charm, a shift probably reflecting developments in French usage.

Full entry

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