Where does “wilfulness” come from?

Wilfulness derives from Middle English wilfulnesse, composed of wilful plus the Old English suffix -nes, which is traced to Proto-Germanic -inassuz.

wilfulness (English): The state or condition of being wilful;...

Definitions

  1. The state or condition of being wilful;...

Ancestry of “wilfulness”, step by step

wilfulness 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 wilful

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwilfulIntentional; deliberate; Stubborn and determined
2Middle Englishwilful—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European néh₂s →Every word from Proto-Germanic nasją →Every word from Old English næs →