seknesse

Middle English

Alternative forms

• ceekenesse, ceknesse, seckenes, secknes, seeknesse, sekenes, sekenesse, sekenez, seknes, sijknes, sijknesse, sikenesse, sikenez, siknesse, sykenes, syknes, syknesse
• seacnisse, sechnesse, secnesse, seocnysse, sicnesse (Early Middle English)
• zicnesse, ziknesse (Kent)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English sēocnes, sēocness; by surface analysis, sek +‎ -nesse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈseːknɛs(ə)/, /ˈsiknɛs(ə)/, /ˈsiːknɛs(ə)/

Noun

seknesse (plural seknesses)

1. Illness, sickness; the state of being (physically or mentally) unwell.
2. A disease or sickness; a medical condition.
3. (by extension) Infirmity, weakness; a lack of strength.
   1. Spiritual weakness or decay.
   2. Emotional distress or turmoil.

Descendants

• English: sickness
• Scots: seekness

References

• “sī̆knes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.