destructiveness

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English destructive Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English destructiveness From destructive + -ness.

1. The state or quality of being destructive.

   “Would Helen’s face-seductiveness have wrought as much destructiveness, Would Antony have followed Cleopatra like a lamb, Unless those ladies’ vanities for snaring male humanities Had been associated with a quantum suff. of glam.?”