Fullness is the state of being completely full. The fullness of time, a sense of fullness, fullness of flavour.
In the fullness of time is the fixed phrase, meaning eventually and with an air of patience. In eating, fullness is a signal that arrives late — about twenty minutes behind the stomach, which is why eating slowly matters. Of sound and flavour it means richness. Note full; and that the word is simply full plus -ness.
1nounfullnessThe state of being completely full.
“Fullness arrives about twenty minutes late.”
2nounrichnessRichness of sound or flavour.
“The old violin has a warmth and fullness of tone that new ones lack.”
fullness is a state of completeness.
Old English fulnes is full plus -ness, and meant completeness or abundance. Fill and fulfil come from the same full.
Old English
fulnes
Middle English
fulnesse
English, today
fullness
Built from
From Middle English fulnesse, from Old English fulnes, fylnes, fyllnis (“completeness; abundance”), equivalent to full + ness. Cognate with Old High German folnissi (“fullness”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA