Meaning

noun concern with outward things or material objects as opposed to the mind and spirit

noun the quality or state of being outside or directed toward or relating to the outside or exterior

noun a concern with or responsiveness to outward things (especially material objects as opposed to ideal concepts)

originEtymology tree English outward 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 outwardness From outward + -ness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0