Where does “lostness” come from?

lostness (English) comes from English Ness, from Middle English nesse, from Old English næs, from Proto-Germanic nasją, from Proto-Indo-European néh₂s — nose.

lostness (English): The fact or quality of being lost

Definitions

  1. The fact or quality of being lost

Ancestry of “lostness”, step by step

lostness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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

via English Lost

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLostHaving wandered from, or unable to find, the way
2Middle Englishlost—
3Old Englishlosod—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European néh₂s →Every word from Proto-Germanic nasją →Every word from Old English næs →