Which suffix denotes weakness?

Which suffix denotes weakness?

• A. Strength
• B. Weakness
• C. Fatigue
• D. Numbness

Answer: (B)

In this kind of terminology, suffixes that turn adjectives into nouns often name a state or condition. The suffix used here is “-ness,” which marks a state of being. When you apply that to weak, you get weakness—the condition of being weak. So the term that denotes weakness directly is weakness itself, because it literally names the state of lacking strength. The other options point to different ideas: strength is the opposite of weakness; fatigue is a sense of tiredness; numbness is a loss of sensation.

In this kind of terminology, suffixes that turn adjectives into nouns often name a state or condition. The suffix used here is “-ness,” which marks a state of being. When you apply that to weak, you get weakness—the condition of being weak. So the term that denotes weakness directly is weakness itself, because it literally names the state of lacking strength. The other options point to different ideas: strength is the opposite of weakness; fatigue is a sense of tiredness; numbness is a loss of sensation.