cohesiveness

the word cohesiveness is a modern english formation built upon the latin verb cohaerēre, meaning "to stick or cling together". this verb itself is a compound of the prefix com- (together) and the root haerēre (to stick, cling, be attached), a root with a clear physical sense that has persisted into english in words like "adhere" and "inherent". the addition of the latin-derived adjectival suffix -ive created "cohesive", describing something with the property of sticking together. finally, the native english suffix -ness, used since old english to form abstract nouns of state or quality, was appended. thus, the word's logical journey is from the literal, physical action of sticking together, to the adjective describing that property, and finally to the abstract noun naming the state of possessing that unifying quality.

Structure: cohes (stick together) + ive (adjective suffix) + ness (noun suffix) cohes: from latin cohaes-, past participial stem of cohaerēre (to stick together), combining com- (together) and haerēre (to stick). functions as the core root. ive: from latin -īvus, a suffix forming adjectives meaning "tending to" or "having the nature of". functions as a derivational suffix forming the adjective "cohesive". ness: from old english -nes, a suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives, denoting state or quality. functions as a nominalizing suffix.