How Do You Spell GUILTINESS?

Pronunciation: [ɡˈɪltɪnəs] (IPA)

The spelling for the word "guiltiness" is quite straightforward. The first syllable is pronounced with a hard "g" sound, followed by the "i" as in "sit" and the "l" as in "lot". The second syllable includes a "t" sound, followed by the "i" sound again and ending with a "ness" sound. The phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈɡɪltinəs/. "Guiltiness" is a noun that refers to the state of feeling guilty or responsible for something wrong.

GUILTINESS Meaning and Definition

1. Guiltiness refers to the state or condition of feeling guilty or responsible for committing an offense, wrongdoing, or a moral transgression. It is a complex emotional response that arises from the perception of having violated one's own moral or ethical standards, or those of society, resulting in a sense of remorse, shame, or regret.

   The feeling of guiltiness often emerges when an individual becomes aware of their responsibility in causing harm, directly or indirectly, to someone or something. It encompasses a range of emotions, including sadness, self-disapproval, and a desire for atonement or reparation. Guiltiness can be accompanied by self-punishment or an inclination to seek forgiveness from those affected by one's actions.

   The experience of guiltiness can vary in intensity and duration, depending on the gravity of the offense committed and an individual's personal beliefs and values. Sometimes, guiltiness can arise from real or imagined wrongdoing, as one might feel guilty even without any actual harm caused. This cognitive aspect can lead to a heightened self-awareness and a desire to rectify or make amends for the perceived transgressions.

   In a legal context, guiltiness can imply the state of being legally responsible or culpable for committing a crime or offense, thereby potentially subject to punishment or legal consequences. However, guiltiness encompasses more than just legal implications, as it relates primarily to an individual's moral compass and personal convictions.

2. Consciousness of crime; wickedness.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for GUILTINESS *

• guildines 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for GUILTINESS

• guilines
• guiltine
• guidliness
• gultiness
• guiltyness
• guildness
• guiltinees
• guiltness
• guiltines
• guiltiless
• gutiness
• guilfulness
• guitinesses
• guuttiness
• quiltingss
• guilesness
• guilianess
• guiltenesses
• gutinesse
• guilleness
• guilenness
• guilliless
• guitlness
• guilteness
• guidlesness

Etymology of GUILTINESS

The word "guiltiness" derives from the Middle English term "gultinesse", which first appeared around the 14th century. It is formed by combining the word "guilty" with the suffix "-ness".

The term "guilty" originates from the Old English word "gyltig", which means "culpable" or "deserving of blame". It is related to the Old Norse word "giltr", meaning "offense". Both the Old English and Old Norse terms trace back to the Proto-Germanic word "gulþija", which means "to owe" or "to be in debt". This base word suggests a connection between the concept of guilt and a sense of obligation or indebtedness.

Over time, the suffix "-ness" has been commonly used in English to form abstract nouns and to indicate the state or quality of something.

Similar spelling word for GUILTINESS

• guillotine.

Plural form of GUILTINESS is GUILTINESSES