What does the root word ness mean?

The suffix "-ness" in English is used to form nouns that indicate a state, quality, or condition.

Here's how it works:

* It is added to adjectives or other nouns: For example, "happy" (adjective) becomes "happiness" (noun), and "dark" (adjective) becomes "darkness" (noun).

* It denotes the quality of being something: For example, "kindness" means the quality of being kind, and "sadness" means the state of being sad.

Here are some examples of words using the "-ness" suffix:

* Happiness

* Sadness

* Darkness

* Goodness

* Kindness

* Weakness

* Blindness

* Redness

* Loudness

* Sharpness

It's important to note that "-ness" is not a root word itself. It's a suffix that adds meaning to existing words.