kindness

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English kindenesse, equivalent to kind +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkaɪnd.nəs/, /ˈkaɪnd.nɪs/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪndnəs

Noun

kindness (usually uncountable, plural kindnesses)

  1. The state of being kind.
    Jamie's kindness is legendary, so much that people have taken advantage of her.
    • 2025 April 28, Madeline Holcombe, “It might be time to ‘reparent’ yourself. Here’s how to get started”, in CNN‎[1]:
      If attending to your childhood wounds and responding with kindness feels selfish, it is important to remember that compassion for oneself often makes people more compassionate to others, Lev said.
  2. An instance of kind or charitable behaviour.
    How can I thank you for your many kindnesses?
    Do me a kindness and leave.
    i'm going to turn a blind eye to this misdemeanour, out of the kindness of my heart.
    • 1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 8, page 232:
      They are grateful for kindnesses that they may have received.

Derived terms

Translations

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.