different between reality vs thingness

English

Etymology

[circa 1540] From French réalité (“quality of being real”), from Middle French realité (“property, possession”), from Medieval Latin re?lit?s, from Late Latin re?lis (“real”), equivalent to real +? -ity. Recorded since 1550 as a legal term in the sense of “fixed property” (compare real estate, realty); the sense “real existence” is attested from 1647.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?i?æl?ti/, /?i?æl?ti/
• Rhymes: -æl?ti

Noun

reality (usually uncountable, plural realities)

1. The state of being actual or real.

   • A man very often fancies that he understands a critic, when in reality he does not comprehend his meaning.
2. A real entity, event or other fact.
   • 1770, James Beattie, Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth

     My neck, Sir, may be an idea to you, but to me it is a reality.
3. The entirety of all that is real.
4. An individual observer's own subjective perception of that which is real.
5. (obsolete) Loyalty; devotion.
   • 1642, Thomas Fuller, The Holy State and the Profane State

     To express our reality to the emperor.

6. (law, obsolete) Realty; real estate.

Synonyms

• truth
• actuality

Antonyms

• fantasy

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Usage notes

Adjectives that collocate with reality include: harsh; stark; brutal; grim; bitter

Further reading

• reality on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• irately, tearily

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English reality. Doublet of realidad.

Noun

reality m (plural realities or realitys)

1. (television) reality show

   Synonym: reality show

English

Etymology

thing +? -ness

Noun

thingness (usually uncountable, plural thingnesses)

1. The quality of a material thing; objectivity; actuality; reality.
   • 1994, Shadia B Drury, Alexandre Kojève [1]

     To live as a thing, to live for another and as the other expects, is to live unauthentically or in bad faith. To be true to oneself, one must reduce others to thingness and resist being so reduced.

See also

• thinghood

References

• "thingness", Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, <http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/thingness> [Retrieved January 8, 2005].
• "thingness", Encarta World English Dictionary, <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861719723> [Retrieved January 8, 2005].
• "thingness", Random House Unabridged Dictionary (1997) <http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/thingness> [Retrieved January 8, 2005].

Anagrams

• se'nnights, sennights