Origin: Germanic Old English suffix
Readiness has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
"putting them in readiness"
"their preparation was more than adequate"
prompt willingness
"readiness to continue discussions"
"they showed no eagerness to spread the gospel"
"they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority"
"he tried to explain his forwardness in battle"
The state or degree of being ready; preparedness.
"The soldier's readiness was evident as he stood at attention before the inspection began."
In plain English: Readiness is being prepared and ready to do something when it happens.
"The team's readiness for the final match was evident in their confident performance."
Usage: Use readiness to describe the general quality of being prepared, such as showing military readiness before an operation. It functions similarly to preparedness but often emphasizes a specific moment when action is imminent rather than long-term planning.
The word readiness is formed by adding the suffix -ness to the adjective ready. It entered English as a straightforward combination of these two existing elements to describe the state of being prepared.