godliness
UK[ˈɡɒdlinəs]US[ˈɡɑːdlinəs]
n
the quality of being devoutly religious; piety.
n
the state or condition of being like god in moral character; holiness.
Morpheme Breakdown
godly
ness
godly
adjective
ness
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'godliness' is a layered english formation, built upon the ancient germanic concept of the divine. its core, 'god', originates from the proto-germanic gudą, a term for a deity, which itself may derive from a proto-indo-european root meaning 'to call' or 'to invoke', suggesting a being summoned in prayer. the old english suffix '-lic' (modern '-ly') was attached to create 'godlic', meaning 'having the character of god'. finally, the abstract noun-forming suffix '-ness', of germanic origin, was added to produce 'godliness', transforming the adjectival quality into a state of being. thus, the term's logic moves from the invoked deity, to a character resembling that deity, and finally to the abstract condition embodying that resemblance, encapsulating the concept of piety or holiness.
Analysis
Structure: godly (adjective) + ness (noun suffix)
- godly: from old english 'godlic' (of god, divine), from 'god' (deity) + '-lic' (having the form or character of). origin: proto-germanic gudą.
- ness: from old english '-nes', '-ness', a suffix forming abstract nouns of state or quality. origin: proto-germanic -inassu.
Examples
his life was a model of quiet godliness and charitable works.
the sermon focused on the pursuit of godliness through daily practice and reflection.
in their tradition, godliness is considered more important than strict ritual observance.