Meaning

noun trueness of course toward a goal

noun the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

originEtymology tree English direct Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English directness From direct + -ness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0