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]