# inwardness

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The characteristic of being inward or directed towards the inside.
2. The internal or true state; the essential nature.
3. Familiarity; intimacy.
4. Earnestness; heartiness.

## Etymology
From Middle English inwardnesse; analysable as inward + -ness.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/inwardness