jerkiness

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English jerky 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 jerkiness From jerky + -ness.

1. The state or quality of being jerky (characterized by sudden uneven motion or progress).

   “[…] there was a good deal of jerkiness apparent in the motion of the car, especially when the wheels turned into the numerous ruts of the drive.”

   “In 1900 Planck announced that radiant energy could only be propagated in tiny, indivisible bundles which he called quanta. Furthermore these bundles did not proceed through space continuously, but by jumps. It was not long before experimenters were finding this lumpiness and jerkiness everywhere.”

2. The behavior of a jerk (unpleasant person).