fulness

Fulness is a term used to describe the state or quality of being full, complete, or abundant. In everyday use, the related noun is usually spelled fullness, as in the fullness of a meal or the fullness of a moment. In linguistic analysis, the sequence -fulness appears as part of words formed by adding the suffix -ness to adjectives ending in -ful (for example, wakefulness, hopefulness) and is often discussed as the phonological realization of the broader morpheme that denotes a state or condition.

Etymology and morphology extend the concept beyond a single lexical item. The root idea comes from the adjective full, with the -ness suffix creating a noun meaning “the state of being full.” When combined with adjectives that already end in -ful, the result can include the string ful-ness, as in wakefulness or mindfulness. Thus, -fulness operates as part of a productive pattern for forming abstract nouns that describe a quality or condition.

Semantic range covers physical, qualitative, and existential senses. Physically, fullness refers to capacity or satiation (a container’s fullness, stomach fullness). Qualitatively, it can denote abundance, sufficiency, or completeness (the fullness of a plot, the fullness of a life). In religious or philosophical contexts, fullness often conveys plenitude or wholeness, such as the fullness of time or the fullness of divine presence.

Usage notes include that fullness is a common standalone noun, while the -fulness pattern is a productive, boundary-crossing mechanism for creating related terms (wakefulness, mindfulness, gracefulness). The concept remains widely used across disciplines to express the idea of being filled, complete, or rich in content. See also plenitude, wholeness, abundance, and the suffixes -ful and -ness.