Definition of shallowness

The word "shallowness" has its roots in Old English and Middle English. The term "shallow" has been used since the 14th century to describe something that lacks depth or is superficial. The suffix "-ness" is a common way to form nouns that denote a quality or state, as seen in words like "braveness" and "cleverness." The word "shallowness" likely emerged in the 16th century as a combination of "shallow" and the "-ness" suffix. It was initially used to describe the quality of being superficial or lacking in depth, often in a negative sense. Over time, the word has taken on different connotations, sometimes being used to describe intellectual or emotional shallowness, and other times describing physical shallowness, such as a shallow body of water.