Where does “watchingness” come from?

watchingness (English) comes from English watching, from English watch, from English puppy, from English puppie, from Middle French poupée, from Old French poupée, from Latin pupa, from Latin pupus — few, little; smallness.

watchingness (English): The quality of watching; vigilant attention

Definitions

  1. The quality of watching; vigilant attention

Ancestry of “watchingness”, step by step

watchingness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English watching

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwatchingpresent participle of watch; The act of one who...
2EnglishwatchA portable or wearable timepiece; The act of...
3EnglishpuppyA young dog, especially before sexual maturity; A...
4EnglishpuppieObsolete form of puppy
5Middle Frenchpoupéedoll, toy
6Old Frenchpoupée
7Latinpupagirl, little girl; doll, puppet; pupa
8Latinpupusa boy, a child; a puppet; the pupil of the eye
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂w-few, little; smallness

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 peh₂w-