Business & Busy-ness...hmmm....

[Birdmonster]

So, busyness is not a word. I know this. I'm aware. The question is, is there a relation between business & busy-ness? If not, there should be.

[mittu]

From www.etymonline.com:

business
O.E. bisignisse (Northumbrian) "care, anxiety," from bisig "careful, anxious, busy, occupied" (see busy) + -ness. Sense of "work, occupation" is first recorded 1387. Sense of "trade, commercial engagements" is first attested 1727. Modern two-syllable pronunciation is 17c. Business card first attested 1840.

It seems there is a link

[RealityChuck]

There is. From the OED:

Business
[OE. (North.) bisinis, f. BUSY a., or stem of BUSY v.; see -NESS. Shortened to a dissyllable, since it ceased to be a noun of state. The plural businesses (formerly also business) is used only in a few senses, chiefly 14, 15.]

I. State or quality of being busy. (Cf. the adj.)

The various meanings of busy-ness are all obsolete.

[Birdmonster]

Consider etymonline bookmarked. Thanks for coming through with the OED as well. Always the last word.