The word "iciness" is spelled i-c-i-n-e-s-s. The first syllable, "i," is pronounced /aɪ/ as in "eye," followed by the consonant sound /s/ in the second syllable. The next syllable, "ness," is pronounced with the vowel sound /ɪ/ as in "bit," followed by the consonant sound /n/ and the vowel sound /ɛ/ as in "bed." The final syllable is pronounced with the consonant sound /s/. In total, "iciness" has three syllables and is pronounced /aɪs.nɛs/.
Iciness refers to the state or quality of being icy or extremely cold. It is characterized by a low temperature that causes a freezing or freezing-like sensation. When something or someone exhibits iciness, it often denotes a lack of warmth, friendliness, or emotion. The term can be used to describe various contexts, including physical temperature, climate, objects, environments, and interpersonal interactions.
In the physical sense, iciness refers to the extreme coldness of an object or substance. This can be felt when touching an icy surface or being exposed to very cold weather conditions. The pervasive chill in the air during winter exemplifies iciness on a broader scale, where the surrounding environment feels frigid and frosty.
When used to describe interpersonal interactions, iciness suggests a lack of warmth or emotional connection. It often implies a certain degree of distance, indifference, or even hostility in personal relationships. For example, an icy reception may involve cool and aloof behavior towards someone, displaying a certain unfriendliness or reserve. Similarly, an icy stare or tone suggests a marked absence of warmth or emotion.
In summary, iciness is a term that encompasses both the literal coldness experienced in physical environments and the figurative lack of warmth or emotional connection in interpersonal interactions. Whether referring to freezing temperatures, frosty climates, chilly objects, or distant relations, iciness denotes a state or quality characterized by extreme coldness or the absence of warmth.
State of being very cold; to break the ice, to begin a subject or topic; to remove the first obstructions or difficulties.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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.
The word "iciness" is derived from the Middle English word "isenesse", which originated from the Old English word "isenes" meaning "icy". It further traces its roots back to the Old Norse word "isarn" and the Proto-Germanic word "isern". These words ultimately stem from the Proto-Indo-European root "eis-" meaning "ice". With its evolution through various linguistic stages, "iciness" has retained its meaning of extreme coldness.