high-mindedness
UK[ˌhaɪˈmaɪndɪdnəs]US[ˌhaɪˈmaɪndɪdnəs]
n
The quality of having strong moral principles and noble goals.
Morpheme Breakdown
high
minded
ness
high
elevated
minded
having a mind of a specified kind
ness
state or quality
Etymology
The word is a relatively modern English compound, built from native Germanic elements to express an abstract moral quality. The core concept lies in the adjective "high-minded," first recorded in the 16th century, which literally meant "having lofty thoughts or aspirations." The element "high" carries its figurative sense of "morally elevated" or "noble," a usage dating to Old English. The suffix "-ness" then nominalizes this adjective, solidifying the abstract quality. Thus, the term's logic is transparent: it describes the state (-ness) of possessing a mind (minded) oriented toward lofty, principled (high) ideals.
Analysis
Structure: high (elevated) + minded (having a mind of a specified kind) + ness (state or quality)
- high: From Old English hēah, meaning "of great height, lofty, tall, exalted". In this compound, it functions as an intensifier denoting superiority or nobility.
- minded: From Old English gemynd (memory, thought) + the suffix -ed, forming an adjective meaning "having a (specified kind of) mind".
- ness: From Old English -nes(s), a noun-forming suffix denoting a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
She was respected for her integrity and highmindedness in public life.
The charity's work was driven by a genuine highmindedness, not a desire for publicity.
His highmindedness sometimes made him seem impractical to his more cynical colleagues.