blackness

Meanings

1. The state or quality of being black in colour.
2. Any space that such colour pervades.
3. Darkness, gloominess; depression.
4. The quality of being evil or dismal.
5. The state of being of African descent.
6. The experiences and culture of African-American people.

1. A suburb of Dundee, City of Dundee council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NO3830).
2. A small coastal village in Falkirk council area, Scotland; a nearby headland is named Black Ness (OS grid ref NT0580).
3. A hamlet in Westham parish, Wealden district, East Sussex, England (OS grid ref TQ6104).
4. A suburb of Crowborough, Wealden district, East Sussex (OS grid ref TQ5230).

1. Alternative letter-case form of blackness (“state of being of African descent; culture of African-Americans”).

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English blaknesse, equivalent to black + -ness. Sense 5 most likely both originated from the masque The Masque of Blackness by Ben Jonson and later changed to its current positive sense.