unpleasantness

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English unpleasant 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 unpleasantness From unpleasant + -ness.

1. The property of being unpleasant or disagreeable.

   “Given the behaviour of the members, who do normally come to Lord’s, this seemed a bizarre attempt to offload the unpleasantness on hoi polloi taking advantage of some rare £25 tickets.”

2. An unpleasant behaviour, occurrence, etc.

   “Perhaps you are not so much aware as I am, of the mischief that may, of the unpleasantnesses that must, arise from a young man’s being received in this manner—domesticated among us—authorized to come at all hours—and placed suddenly on a footing which must do away all restraints.”