Well, after a bit of wrangling with onebyone, my position on this is as follows:
In that case, simplicity is the quality of being non-complex and simpleness the quality of being stupid.
So there are only two valid forms of the adjective because it's effectively formed from two different nouns (i.e. two different meanings of the word simple).
I'm still looking for an example of -ity and -ness being added to the same word and meaning different things.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-09 07:15 am (UTC)In that case, simplicity is the quality of being non-complex and simpleness the quality of being stupid.
So there are only two valid forms of the adjective because it's effectively formed from two different nouns (i.e. two different meanings of the word simple).
I'm still looking for an example of -ity and -ness being added to the same word and meaning different things.
no subject
The former is a repository for monsters whilst the latter is completely meaningless.
(ObFriday: Good grief, Friday afternoon already...)
no subject
Date: 2004-01-09 07:28 am (UTC)Poorness and paucity come from the same root.
Vulgarness, vulgarity?