Where does “howness” come from?

howness (English) comes from English how, from Middle English how, from Old English hū, from Proto-Germanic hwō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷís.

howness (English): The state or condition of how a person, object,...

Definitions

  1. The state or condition of how a person, object,...

Ancestry of “howness”, step by step

howness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English how

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhowTo what degree; In what manner; In what state
2Middle Englishhowhow
3Old Englishhow
4Proto-Germanichwōhow, with what, by what means; instrumental of...
5Proto-Indo-European*kʷís

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *kʷísEvery word from Proto-Germanic hwōEvery word from Old English