shortness

shortness
    n 1: the property of being of short spatial extent; "the
         shortness of the Channel crossing" [ant: {longness}]
    2: the condition of being short of something; "there was no
       shortness of money"; "can cause shortness of breath"
    3: the property of being truncated or short [syn: {shortness},
       {truncation}]
    4: the property of being of short temporal extent; "the
       shortness of air travel time" [ant: {longness}]
    5: the property of being shorter than average stature [ant:
       {tallness}]
    6: an abrupt discourteous manner [syn: {abruptness},
       {brusqueness}, {curtness}, {gruffness}, {shortness}]
    

Shortness \Short"ness\, n.
   The quality or state of being short; want of reach or
   extension; brevity; deficiency; as, the shortness of a
   journey; the shortness of the days in winter; the shortness
   of an essay; the shortness of the memory; a shortness of
   provisions; shortness of breath.
   [1913 Webster]