# Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Prefixes and Suffixes

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES.
    The best account of these is to be found in Kellner's edition of Dr Morris's Historical Outlines of English Accidence (1895), and especially in Professor Skeat's Principles of English Etymology—First Series (2d ed. 1892), chaps. xii.-xiv.; Second Series (1891), chap. xviii. To these books the following lists are largely indebted.
A- (A.S.) represents:
(1) A.S. an, on, on, as abed, aboard, afoot, ashore, asunder, now-a-days, twice-a-week, alive, among, about, a-fishing.
(2) A.S. and-, over against, in reply to, to, as along (from A.S. and-lang, i.e. over against in length); appearing also as e- in elope, as am- in ambassador, and as em- in embassy; the same as un- in verbs. See Un- (2). [Cog. with Goth. and-, Ger. ent-, ant-, L. ante-, Gr. anti-.]
(3) A.S. á-, an intensive prefix to verbs, out, out from, as in arise (from A.S. árísan, to rise out of or up); or sig. 'very,' as in aghast. Cf. abide, accurse, affright, amaze, arise, arouse, ago. [Cog. with Ger. er-, Goth. us-, ur-.]
(4) A.S. of, of, from, as in adown (from A.S. of dúne, 'from the height'), anew, akin; or from of-, intensive, as athirst.
(5) A.S. ge-, y-, as aware (A.S. ge-wǽre), afford.
(6) at, old sign of inf., as ado. [A Northern idiom, due to Scand. influences, as in Ice., Sw., &c.]
A- (L. and Gr.) represents: (1) L. Ab-, as in avert; (2) L. Ad-, as achieve; (3) L. E- or Ex-, as in abash, amend; (4) Gr. A- (for An-), as in abyss. See these prefixes.
A-, Ab-, Abs-, As- (L.), away from, as avert, absent, absolve, abstract; and also assoil and avaunt through French. Indeed, this prefix appears as a-, adv-, av-, v-, as in avert, advance, avaunt, vanguard, &c. [L. a, ab, abs (oldest form ap); cog. with Gr. apo-, Sans. apa, Ger. ab, Eng. off.]
Ab-. See Ad-.
Ac-. See Ad-.
Ad- (L.), to, at, as adhere, adapt. It appears as a-, ab-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-, as in achieve, abbreviate, accede, admire, affix, aggregate, allot, annex, approve, arrive, assign, attract. The words achieve, agree, amerce, amount, acquit, acquaint, avow, &c. show the same prefix, derived through the medium of Old French. [L. ad; cog. with Sans. adhi, Goth. and Eng. at, Celt. ar-.]
Af-. See Ad-.
After- (A.S.), as after-growth, after-math, after-wards. [A.S. æfter-.]
Ag-. See Ad-.
Al-. See Ad-.
Al- (Ar.), the—also as a-, ar-, as-, el-, l-, as apricot, artichoke, assagai, elixir, lute.
All- (A.S.), all, as almighty, all-wise. In Early English al-=quite is added (1) to past participles, as al-brent=quite burnt, al-heled=quite concealed; (2) to verbs preceded by to, as al-to-brenne=to burn up entirely. In Elizabethan and later writers all-to=altogether, quite—the original meaning of to having been lost sight of. Cf. Milton's 'all-to ruffled,' &c. [A.S. eall-.]
Am-, (1) the Fr. em—L. im for in, as ambush: see In- (2); (2) the Gr. an-, as in Ambrosia: see An- (2); (3) the same as An- (1), as in ambassador.
Ambi-, Amb-, Am- (L.), round about, both, as ambidexter, ambition, amputate. [L.; cog. with Gr. amphi-, Sans. abhi, around.]
Amphi- (Gr.), round about, both, as amphitheatre, amphibious. [Cog. with L. ambi-, amb-.]
An- (A.S.), against, in return, as answer. See A- (A.S.) (2), above. [A.S. and-, Ger. ant-, Goth. and-.]
An-, A-, Am- (Gr.), not, without, as anarchy, atom, ambrosia. [Gr.; cog. with Sans. an-, a-, L. in-, Eng. un-, in-, not.]
An- (Fr. en—L. in), as in anoint. See In- (2).
An-, as in ancestor; see Ante- (below).
An-. See Ad-.
Ana-, An- (Gr.), up, back, as analyse, anatomy, aneurism. [Cog. with Goth. ana, Eng. on.]
Ante-, Anti-, Anci-, An- (L.), before, as antecedent, anticipate, ancient, ancestor (for L. antecessor). [L. ante, old form anti; conn. with anti-; Fr. anci-, an-.]
Anti- (Gr.), opposite to, against, as antipathy, antipodes; as ant- in antagonist, and anth- in anthem. [Gr.; conn. with L. ante-, Sans. anti-, facing, Ger. ant- in Antwort, Eng. an- (for and-) in answer (see Dict.). Cf. A- (A.S.) (2), above.]
Ap-. See Ad-.
Apo- (Gr.), off, from, away, as apostle; as aph- in aphelion, aphæresis. [Cog. with L. ab-.]
Ar-. See Ad-.
Arch-, Archi-, Arche- (Gr.), first, chief, as archbishop, architect, archetype.
As-. See Ad-.
At-. See Ad-.
At- (Eng.), denoting nearness, as atone; against, as twit (A.S. æt-wítan, to blame). [A.S. æt.]
Auto-, Auth- (Gr.), self, as autocrat, autograph, autopsy, authentic.
Av-. See Ab-.
Be- (A.S.), the most fertile of all English prefixes, is the weak form of by. The original meaning was 'about.' (1) It forms derivative verbs, with the sense of 'around,' 'on all sides,' 'in all directions,' as beblear=to blear all over, begirdle, bejumble, bepaste, besmudge; (2) it forms intensive verbs, with the sense of 'thoroughly,' 'soundly,' as bebreech=to breech soundly, bedaub, bewelcome; (3) it renders intransitive verbs transitive by adding a prepositional relation, as bechatter=to environ with chattering, begaze=to gaze at, besmile=to smile at, bespeak; (4) it forms transitive verbs of adjectives and substantives, as befoul=to affect with foulness, bedim=to make dim, bedew=to cover with dew, befriend.
Bis-, Bi-, Bin- (L.), twice, double, as biscuit, biennial, binocular; as ba- in balance. [Corr. of duis, ablative of duo, two.]
Cata-, Cath-, Cat- (Gr.), down, downwards, according to, thoroughly, as cataract, catholic, catechism. [Gr. kata.]
Circum-, Circu- (L.), round about, as circumscribe, circuit. [Properly accusative of circus, a circle. See Circle in Dict.]
Cis- (L.), on this side, as cisalpine.
Com-, Con-, Co- (L.), together, with, as connect, cohere, collect, correct, council. In curry, this prefix has been attached to O. Fr. roi, order; often intensive, as commotion; co-admire, co-enjoy, co-actor, co-believer. [Com- is the old form of L. cum, with; cog. with Gr. syn, Sans. sam. The root, originally signifying 'one,' is seen in L. sim-ul, together, Gr. ham-a, together, Eng. simple (which see in Dict.).]
Contra-, Contro-, Contr-, Counter- (L.), against, as contradict, controvert, contralto, counteract. [L. contra (whence Fr. contre), from Con-, and -tra, from root tar, to cross, seen also in trans.]
De- (L., or Fr.—L.), down, from, away, occurs in words derived either directly from L., as deduce; or through the Fr. from L., in which case De-, Di-, represents either (1) O. Fr. des- from L. dis-, asunder, not, as in defeat (O. Fr. des-fait), or (2) Fr.—L. de-, as describe [lit. 'write down'], decompose. This prefix de- is negative and oppositive in destroy, desuetude, deform, or intensive in declare, desolate, desiccate.
Demi- (Fr.—L.), half, as demigod, demiquaver. [Fr. demi—L. dimidium, half.]
Di- (Gr.), double, as dilemma, dialogue.
Dia- (Gr.), through, as diameter; shortened to di- in diæresis, and appearing as de-, dea-, in devil, deacon. [Gr. dia, from dyo, two.]
Dif-. See Dis-.
Dis- (Gr.), two, twice, as dissyllable, dicotyledonous. [From duis, from root of two.]
Dis-, Di- (L.; in O. Fr. des-), in two, asunder, as dispart, differ, disperse; negative, as disrelish; privative, as dislodge. Thus variously di-, dif-, dis-, des-, de-, and even s-, as in spend. [Dis for duis, from L. duo, Gr. dyo, Sans. dvi, Goth. and Eng. two.]
Dys- (Gr.), ill, difficult, as dysentery, dyspepsy. [Cog. with Sans. dus, Goth. tus, Ger. zer-, A.S. to-, Eng. two.]
E-. See Ex-.
E-=A.S. ge-, in enough (A.S. genóh, Ger. genug).
E-, as in elope. See A- (A.S.) (2), and also An- (A.S.).
E-, a purely phonetic addition, of French origin, as in esquire, estate, eschew, especial, escutcheon.
Ec- or Ex- (Gr.), out of, from, as ecstasy, exodus; also as el- in ellipse. [Gr. ex, cog. with L. ex, out.]
Edd-, in eddy. [A.S. ed-, back.]
Ef-. See Ex-.
El-, in ellipse, &c. See Ec- or Ex-.
Emb-, in ember days. [A.S. ymb-ryne, a circuit.]
En- (Gr.), in, on, as energy, endemic, emphasis—sometimes extended to Endo-, within, as endogen.
En-, Em- (Fr.—L.), in, into, as enlist; to make, as enlarge, enact, endure; before b and p, Em-, as embark, embolden. [Fr. en—L. in. See In- (L.), in, into.]
Enter- (Fr.), between, among, as entertain. [Fr. entre—L. inter-.]
Epi-, Ep-, Eph- (Gr.), on, as epitaph; during, as epoch, ephemeral. [Gr. epi; Sans. api, L. ob-.]
Es- (Fr. or Sp.—L.), out, as escape, esplanade. [O. Fr. or Sp. es—L. ex-.]
Eso- (Gr.), in, into, as esoteric. [From Gr. eis, into, whose form was prob. orig. ens, a strengthened form of En- (Gr.).]
Eu- (Gr.), well, as euphony, eulogy; as ev- in evangelist. [Gr. eu, eus, good, for an assumed es-us, real.]
Ex- or E- (L.), from, out of, as expel, eject, efflux; by assimilation, appearing as a-, e-, ef-, es-, ex-, iss-, s-, as amend, enormous, effect, escape, extend, issue, sample. It is French influence which has disguised it in such words as affray, amend, escape, escheat, essay, &c.—Ex- has a privative sense in ex-emperor, ex-mayor. [L. ex-, e-; O. Fr. es-, Fr. é-, ex.]
Ex-, out of, as in exodus.—Exo-, outside, as exotic. [Gr. ex, out of, exō, outside.]
Extra- (L.), on the outside, beyond, as extramural, extraordinary, extra-work; as stra- in strange. [Contr. of exterā (parte being understood), abl. fem. of exterus, beyond, a comp. form, from Ex- (L.).]
For- (A.S.), in place of, as forasmuch. [A.S. prep. for.]
For- (A.S.), through, thorough, away, so as to be non-existent, or to be destroyed, as forswear, forbid, forego (better forgo). [A.S. for-; Ger. ver-, Goth. fra-, conn. with far and from.]
For- (Fr.—L.), as in foreclose, forfeit. [Fr.—L. foris, lit. 'out of doors,' used in the sense of 'outside,' 'beyond,' 'amiss.']
Fore- (A.S.), before, as foretell, forebode; foredated, foresaid, foretold; forecastle, forefather, foresight. [A.S. fore-; Ger. vor.]
Forth- (A.S.), forth, only in forthwith.
Fro- (A.S.), from, as froward. [A.S. fro—Scand., Ice. frá.]
Gain- (A.S.), against, as gainsay. [A.S. gegn. See Against in Dict.]
Hemi- (Gr.), half, as hemisphere—shortened to me- in megrim. [Gr.; cog. with L. semi-, Sans. sāmi-.]
Hetero- (Gr.), other, as heterodoxy. [Gr. heteros, other.]
Holo- (Gr.), entire, as holograph. [Gr. holos, entire.]
Homo- (Gr.), same—lengthened to Homœo-, as homœopathy. [Gr. homos, same.]
Hyper- (Gr.), over, above, beyond, as hyperborean, hypercritical. [Cog. with super- and over-.]
Hypo-, Hyph-, Hyp-, (Gr.), under, as hypotenuse, hyphen, hypallage. [Cog. with L. sub-, Goth. uf, Sans. upa.]
I-, in ignoble. See In- (1), negative.
I-, Y-, as in I-wis, yclept, hand-y-work. This prefix appears as a- in aware, as c- in clutch, and as e- in enough. [A.S. ge-, sign of the past participle passive.]
Il-, as in illude. See In- (2).
Il-, as in illegal. See In- (1).
In-, Im- (L.), not, as inconvenience, incautious, infirm. Before p the n changes to m, as impudent; before l, m, and r it is assimilated to those consonants, as illegal, immature, irregular. This prefix thus appears as en-, i-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, as enemy, ignoble, illegal, immortal, infirm, irregular. [L.; cog. with Gr. an-, Eng. un-.]
In- (L.), in, into, as infuse, illumine, impel, irrigate. It becomes il- before l; im- before b, m, and p; ir- before r. This prefix thus appears as am-, an-, em-, en-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, as ambush, anoint, embrace, enclose, illude, immure, include, irritate.
In- (A.S.), in, on, as income, inward, inland, insight; to make, as imbitter, lit. to put into a state of bitterness; as im- in imbed, impark, &c.
Inter- (L.), in the midst of, between, as interval, intellect, intermarry. [A compar. form; cog. with Eng. under, and Sans. antar, within.]
Intra- (L.), in the inside of, within, as intramural. [Contr. of intera, ablative feminine of interus, inward—Inter-.]
Intro- (L.), into, within, as introduce. [Contr. of intero, ablative masculine of interus—Inter-.]
Ir-, as in irritate. See In- (2).
Ir-, as in irregular. See In- (1).
Iss-, as in issue. See Ex- (1).
Juxta- (L.), near, as juxtaposition. [Superl. form, from root of L. jungĕre, to join.]
L-, as in lone; an abbreviation of all.
L-, as in louver. See Al-.
L-, as in lute. See Al-.
Male-, Mali-, Mal-, Mau- (L.), badly, ill, as malefactor, malcontent, malediction, malevolent; through French, maugre=notwithstanding. [L. male, badly.]
Meta-, Meth-, Met- (Gr.), among, with; after, as method. (lit. 'way after'); often implies change, as metamorphose, meteor, metonomy. [Gr. meta; cog. with A.S. mid, Goth. mith, Ger. mit.]
Mid- (A.S.), with, as midwife. [A.S. mid-, together with.]
Mis- (A.S.), wrong, ill, as misbehave, misdeed, mislead. [A.S. mis-; Ice. mis-, Goth. missa-, Ger. miss-. Cf. Mis-in Dict.]
Mis- (Fr.—L.), as in mischief, misalliance, mischance. [Fr. mis-, for O. Fr. mes-, from L. minus, less.]
Mono-, Mon- (Gr.), single, as monograph, monologue, monk, and minster. [Gr. monos, alone.]
Multi-, Mult-, many, as in multiply, multeity. [L. multus, much, many.]
N-, as in newt, nickname, due to the n of the article in an ewt, an ekename. In nuncle the origin is mine uncle; in 'for the nonce,' M. E. for the nones, miswritten for then ones, for the once.
N- (A.S.), no, not, as never; or L. ne-, as in null. [A.S. ne; cog. with Goth. ni, L. ne, Sans. na.]
Ne- (Gr.), not, as nepenthe; Ne-, Neg- (L.), not, as nefarious, neuter, negative, neglect. [L. ne, nec, a contr. of neque, from ne, not, que, and.]
Non- (L.), not, as nonsense, nonage. It appears as um- in umpire=numpire. [From ne unum, not one.]
Ob- (L., by assimilation, o-, ob-, oc-, of-, op-, also os-), in front of, against, in the way of, as obstruct, omit, occur, offer, oppose, ostentation. [Cog. with Gr. epi, Sans. api.]
Oc-, as in occur. See Ob-.
Of-, as in offer. See Ob-.
Off- (A.S.), off, from, away, as offal, offshoot, offset. [A form of Of. There is the same relation between of and off as between be and by; A.S. of has been differentiated into the stressless or weak form of, and the stressed or strong form off. Cf. A-, Ab-.]
On- (A.S.), on, as onset, onlooker. [See On in Dict.]
Op-, as in oppress. See Ob-.
Or- (A.S.), out, in ordeal. [A.S. or-; cog. with Dut. oor-, Ger. ur-, Goth, us-, away, out of.]
Os-, as in ostensible. See Ob-.
Out- (A.S.), out, beyond, as outlaw, outbid, outside, outcast. [A.S. út.]
Over- (A.S.), over, above, as overarch, overseer. [A.S. ofer.]
Pa-, as in palsy. See Para-.
Palin-, Palim- (Gr.), again, as palingenesis, palimpsest. [Gr. palin, again.]
Pan-, Panto- (Gr.), all, as panacea, pantheism, pantomime.
Para-, Par- (Gr.), beside, as parable; beyond, wrong, as paralyse. It appears as pa- in palsy, par- in parody. [Gr. para.]
Pel-, as in pellucid. See Per-.
Pene- (L.), almost, as peninsula.
Per- (L.), through, as permit; thoroughly, as perfect; also appearing as par-, pel-, pil-, as in parson, pardon, pellucid, pilgrim. In perjure, perish, it has a destructive force, equivalent to Eng. for- in forswear (for-, A.S.). [Akin to Gr. para-, beside, Eng. for-, Ger. ver.]
Peri- (Gr.), round, as perimeter, periphrasis. [Gr. peri; Sans. pari, also allied to Gr. para.]
Pol-, Por- (L.), as pollute, portend. [From Old L. port-, towards; cf. Ger. pros, Eng. forth.]
Poly- (Gr.), many, as polygamy.
Por-, as in portrait. See Pro- (2).
Post- (L.), after, backwards, behind, as postdate, postscript, postpone.
Pour-, Pur- (Fr.—L.), as pourtray, purvey. [Fr.—L. pro-.]
Pre-, Præ- (L.), before, as predict, prefer, prearrange, prætor; also in prison and provost. [L. præ, akin to L. pro.]
Preter- (L.), beyond, as preterit, preternatural, pretermit. [L. præter—præ, with comp. suffix -ter.]
Pro- (Gr.), before, as prologue, programme, prophet. [Gr. pro; cog. with L. pro-, Sans. pra, Eng. for (prep.).]
Pro- (L.), forth, forward, before, instead, as project; instead of, from the idea of being before, as pronoun, proconsul. Appearing also as por-, pour-, pr-, prof-, pur-, and as prod- in prodigal.—Of Fr. origin, proceed, purchase, purpose, pursue, purvey. [Cog. with pro- (Gr.), which see.]
Pros- (Gr.), towards, as proselyte, prosody.
Proto-, Prot- (Gr.), first, as prototype, protoxide. [Gr. prōtos, first.]
Pur-. See under Pour-.
Re-, Red-, Ren- (L.), change of place or condition, as in remove, reunion (an assemblage of things or persons formerly apart); hence, change of motion from one direction to the opposite='back,' 'again,'as retract, resound, redeem, redolent. It appears as ren- in render, &c.; as r- in rally, rampart; as ra- in ragout. In rebuild, remind, &c. it has been prefixed to English words.
Retro- (L.), back, backwards, as retrospect, retrograde.—Of Fr. origin, rereward, arrear, &c.
S- for Se-, as in sure; for Dis-, as in spend; for Ex-, as in sample; for Sub-, as in sombre.
Se-, Sed- (L.), without, as secure; aside, as seduce, secede, sedition; appearing as s- in sure, sober.
Semi- (L.), half, as semicircle. [L.; cog. with Gr. hēmi.]
Sine- (L.), without, as sinecure.
So-, as in sojourn. See Sub-.
So-, as in sober. See Se-.
Sovr-, Sopr-. See Super-.
Su-, as in suspect. See Sub-.
Sub- (L.), by assimilation, before c, f, g, m, p, r, s—suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus-; under, from under, after, as subject, suspect, succeed, suffuse, suggest, summon, support, surprise, suspend—also as s- in sombre and so- in sojourn.—Of Fr. origin, succour, summon; Eng. formations, sublet, sub-kingdom, sub-worker. [L. sub (which in O. Fr. became so-).]
Subter- (L.), under, as subterfuge. [From Sub-, and compar. suffix -ter, meaning motion.]
Suc-, Suf-, Sug-, Sum-, Sup-. See Sub-.
Super- (L.), over, above, beyond, as superstructure, supernatural.—Of Fr. origin, surface, surfeit, surpass, surprise;—Eng. compounds, superabundant, supercargo, supercritical. [L.; cog. with Sans. upari, Gr. hyper.]
Supra- (L.), over, above, as supramundane. [Contr. of ablative fem. of superus, above, from Super-.]
Sur- (Fr.), over, as surmount. [Fr., from L. super.]
Sur-, as in surrogate. See Sub-.
Sus-, as in suspend. See Sub-.
Syn-, Sy-, Syl-, Sym- (Gr.), together, with, as syntax, system, syllable, symbol, symmetry. [Cog. with Com-.]
T-, in twit, for at; in tawdry=Saint Awdry, the t being the final letter of saint; in tautology, representing the Greek article to.
Thorough- (A.S.), through, as thoroughfare. [A.S. ðurh, through.]
To- (A.S.), in to-day, together, toward, here-to-fore, is the prep. to. [A.S. tó.]
To- (A.S.), asunder, as in to-brake. [A.S. tó-; cf. Ger. zer-, Gr. dys-.]
Trans-, Tra-, Tran-, Tres-, Tre- (L.), beyond, across, as transport, traverse, transcend, trespass, and treason (through French).
Tri- (L.), thrice, as in triple, treble.
Twi- (A.S.), double, as in twilight. [A.S. twí-, double, twá, two.]
U- (Gr.), no, not, as Utopia. [Gr. ou, not.]
Ultra- (L.), beyond, as ultramarine. The French form outre appears in outrage and in utterance. [From ulter (stem of ulterior), ul- being from root of L. ille.]
Um-, in umpire. See Non-.
Un- (A.S.), negative prefix, not, as unhappy, untruth, uncouth. [Cog. with Gr. an- and L. in- (negative).]
Un- (A.S.), verbal prefix, signifying the reversal of an action, as unlock, unbind, undo, unwind. [A.S. on-, un-; cf. Dut. ont-, Ger. ent-, Goth. and-. See A- (A.S.) (2).]
Un-, Uni- (L.), one, as unanimous, uniform. [L. unus, one.]
Under- (A.S.), under, below, as undergrowth, underwood, underprop, undersell. [See Under in Dict.]
Up- (A.S.), up, as upland, upstart, upright, uphill, upbraid, upset. [A.S. up, upp; Ger. auf.]
Ve- (L.), apart from, as vestibule. [L. ue, apart from; prob. allied to bi- and duo, two.]
Vis-, Vice- (Fr.—L.), in place of, as viscount, viceroy. [Fr. vis-, from L. vice, instead of.]
Wan- (A.S.), wanting, as wanton. [See Wanton in Dict.]
With- (A.S.), against, back, as withstand, withdraw; with, near, as within (this meaning is very rare as prefix). [A.S. with—wither. See With in Dict.]
Y-. See under I-.
SUFFIXES.
-able, adj. suffix, capable of, as portable, laughable; cf. also come-at-able, get-at-able. [L., according to the stem-ending, -abilis, -ebilis, -ibilis, -ubilis.]
-ac, adj. suffix, pertaining to, as elegiac; also used as noun suffix, as maniac. [L. -acus, Gr. -akos.]
-aceous, having the qualities of, as herbaceous. [L. -aceus.]
-acious, full of, as audacious. [L. -ax, -acis.]
-ade, noun suffix, the L. -ata, which in popular French words appears as -ée, becomes -ade in words borrowed from the Provençal, Spanish, Portuguese, and even Italian, as in accolade, gasconade. Also we have ambassade, ambuscade, balustrade, brigade, cascade, &c. from French, words in -ade. Examples of words formed in imitation of these in English itself are blockade, orangeade.
-age, ending of abstract nouns, as homage; marks place where, as vicarage;—of English formation, bondage, brewage, parsonage. [L. -aticum; Fr. -age.]
-ain, -an, -en, -on, noun suffixes, as villain, pagan, warden, surgeon. [L. -anus.]
-al, adj. suffix, as annual, legal, mortal, cardinal;—of English or French formation, circumstantial, cordial, national. Noun suffix, as approval, denial, removal, betrothal. Latin nouns in -alia (neut. pl.) which survived into Old French became -aille (fem. sing.), adopted in Middle English as -aylle, -aille, later -aile, -al, as Latin sponsālia, O. Fr. espousailles, M. E. spousaille, spousal; L. battālia, O. Fr. bataille, M. E. bataille, batail, battle. On this analogy, -aille, -ail, -al, became a formative of nouns of action on verbs of French or Latin, and even of Teutonic, origin. [L. -alis; Fr. -al, -el.]
-an, -ain, -ane, adj. suffix, as human, certain, humane;—of English formation, Anglican, suburban. Noun suffix [L. -anus; Fr. -ain, -en], as publican, veteran. [L. -anus; Fr. -ain, -en.]
-ana, things belonging to, such as sayings, anecdotes, &c., as Johnsoniana, Burnsiana. [L. neut. pl. of adjs. in -anus. See -an.]
-ance, -ence (L. -antia, -entia, Fr. -ance), noun suffix, as in arrogance, repentance, experience, penitence.
-ancy, -ency, a modern English differentiated form of the earlier -ance, expressing more distinctly the sense of quality, state, or condition, often belonging to Latin substantives in -ntia, as in elegantia, 'elegantness,' as distinct from the sense of action or process, regularly expressed by the French form -ance, as in aidance, guidance. The modern tendency is to confine -nce to action, and to express quality or state by -ncy; cf. compliance, pliancy, annoyance, buoyancy.
-and, -end, noun suffix, as viand, legend. [L. -andus, -endus, gerundial suffix.]
-aneous, belonging to, as extraneous. [L. -aneus.]
-ant, -ent, adj. suffix, as repentant, patient. Also noun suffix, sometimes denoting the agent, as instant, sergeant, student, innocent. [L. -ans, -ant-is, or -ens, -ent-is, suffix of pr.p.]
-ar, adj. suffix, belonging to, as angular, popular. [L. -aris; Fr. -ier or -aire.]
-ar, -ard, -art. See under -er (marking the agent).
-ar, -er, -or, noun suffixes, marking place where, as cellar, larder, manor [L. -arium];—denoting the agent, as vicar, treasurer, chancellor. [L. -arius.]
-ard, intensive, as drunkard, coward, sluggard, wizard. [O. Fr. -ard, -art; Ger. -hard, strong.]
-ary, noun suffix, marking place where, as seminary [L. -arium]; the agent, as secretary, antiquary [L. -arius]. Adjective suffix [L. -arius, Fr. -aire], as contrary, necessary, secondary.
-asm. See under -ism.
-ass, -ace, as cuirass, cutlass, menace, pinnace. [L. -aceus, -acius; It. -accio, Fr. -as.]
-aster, dim. and freq. (often implying contempt), as poetaster. [Fr. -artre (It. astro)—L. -as-ter.]
-ate, -ete, -ite, -ute, -t, forming adjectives—all adapted forms of the endings of past participles in Latin according to the conjugation of the verbs from which they are formed, as accurate, desolate; complete, replete; contrite, exquisite; absolute, minute; abject, elect.
-ate, verbal suffix, as navigate, permeate. Adj., as above. Noun, as legate, advocate. [Norm. Fr. at—L. -ātus, suffix of pa.p.]
-ble. See -able.
-ble, -ple, fold, as double, treble, quadruple. [L. -plus, lit. 'full.']
-bund and -cund, as moribund, rubicund. [L. -bundus and -cundus; Fr. -bond and -cond.]
-ce. See under -s, adverbial suffix.
-celli, -cello, dim., as vermicelli, violoncello. [It., from L. -culus.]
-ch, dim., as blotch. [See -ock.]
-cle, -cule, dim., as in particle, animalcule, from L. culus, which also gives (through It.) -celli, -cello, [See under -l.]
-craft, noun suffix, as in bookcraft, priestcraft. [A.S. cræft, skill.]
-cy, -sy, noun suffix, denoting being, or state of being, condition, rank, as clemency, bankruptcy, curacy, minstrelsy. [L. -tia, as in constantia, constancy, or -tio, as in conspiratio, conspiracy.]
-d, -t, or -ed, pa.t. suffix, as loved. The e in -ed is the connecting vowel, omitted when the verb ends in e. [A.S. -de, 'did,' from di-de, pa.t. of do.]
-d, pa.p. suffix of weak verbs, as loved; in nouns (with passive meaning), as deed, seed; in adjectives formed from nouns, as connoting the possession of the attribute or thing expressed by the substantive, as booted, feathered, wooded; in the form -th (or -t), in abstract nouns from adjectives and, later on, from verbs, as death, flight, swift, (with euphonic -s-) du-s-t, bla-s-t. [Orig. -th, as in uncouth, and from the root of the, that; seen also in the L. suffix -tu-s, as in no-tu-s, Sans. jna-ta-s, and in the Gr. suffix -to-s.]
-dom, noun suffix, denoting dominion, power, as kingdom; state, as freedom; act, as martyrdom. New words, as flunkeydom, can be coined. [A.S. dóm, judgment, Ger. -thum.]
-dor, -dore, noun suffix, as in corridor, matadore, stevedore, battledoor. [Sp. -dor, L. -tor.]
-ed. See -d.
-ee, noun suffix, one who or that which is (passive), as trustee, legatee. In such words as absentee, devotee, the old function of -ee is entirely lost; refugee is adopted from Fr. refugié, grandee from Sp. grande. [Fr. -é—L. -ātus, suffix of pa.p.]
-eer, -ier, one who, has frequentative meaning, as charioteer; also -er, -ar, as in carpenter, vicar. [Fr. -ier—-L. -arius.]
-el, dim., as damsel. [See under -l.]
-en, dim., as chicken, maiden. [A.S. -en.]
-en, fem. suffix, now found only in vixen. [A.S. -en, -n; Ger. -in, Gr. -ine, L. -ina.]
-en, added to noun-stems to form adjectives chiefly indicating the material of which a thing is composed. From the 16th century onwards there has been a tendency to discard these adjectives for the attributive use of the substantive, as in 'a gold watch;' only a few words are still familiarly used in their literal sense—earthen, wheaten, wooden, woollen. [A.S. -en; Goth. -en, -an, Ger. -en, -ein, Sans. -um; a genitive suffix, as in mine.]
-en, pa.p., as woven, borne, sworn. [A.S. -n, -ne, -en; conn. with -ant, -ent.]
-en, pl. suffix, as oxen, kine (for M. E. kyen—A.S. cý, pl. of cú, a cow). [A.S. -an.]
-en, to make, as darken, moisten, strengthen, whiten.
-en, -in, -ene, belonging to, as alien, vermin, terrene. [L. -enus, -ena, -enum.]
-ence, -ency. See -nce, -ncy.
-ent, belonging to, as different. [L. -ens, -entis. See -ant.]
-eous, in righteous, corr. of -wise (which see); in courteous, from O. Fr. -eis (from L. -ensis.)
-eous, same as in -ous, as ligneous. [L. -eus.]
-er, freq. and intens., as glimmer, flutter.
-er, infinitive suffix, as cover, encounter. [Fr, -re, -ir, from L. pres. infin. -āre, -ēre, -ĕre, -īre.]
-er marks the agent, designating persons according to their occupation, as writer, singer, hatter, leader, sometimes changed to -ar, as liar; with -i- or -y- prefixed, as cloth-i-er, law-y-er (where the A.S. primitive substantive ends in ȝ); with excrescent -t or -d, as bragg-ar-t. Note that in the words auger, heifer, shelter, what looks like the suffix -er is really an independent substantive. [A.S. -ere; Goth. -arja, Ger. -er.]
-er, more, used in compar. of adjs., as greater, more. [Aryan compar., suffix -ra.]
-er, noun suffix, as matter, gutter. [Fr. -iere—L. -eria.]
-erel, dim. suffix, as mackerel. [See under -l.]
-erie, place where, as menagerie. [Fr., from L. -arium. See -ery.]
-erly, direction to or from, as southerly. [From -ern and -ly.]
-ern, adj. suffix sig. direction, as southern [A.S. -er-n]; adj. suffix, sig. belonging to, as modern [L. -ernus]; noun suffix, as cistern [L. -erna].
-ery, noun suffix, as brewery, witchery, cutlery. [Noun suffix -y added to nouns in -er (marking agent). See -ary, -erie, -ory.]
-es or -s, pl. suffix, as foxes, hats. [A.S. -as. -s is a general pl. suffix, as L. and Gr. -es.]
-escent, adj. suffix, denoting growing, becoming, as convalescent. [L. -esco, -isco, -asco, Gr. -askō, suffix, implying becoming, beginning.]
-ese, adj. suffix, belonging to, as Japanese. [L. -ensis; O. Fr. -eis, mod. Fr. -ois, -ais.]
-esque, adj. suffix, partaking of the quality of, as picturesque, grotesque, Turneresque. [Fr. -esqe (It. -esco)—L. -iscus, a by-form of -icus (see -ic), and conn. with -ish, adj. suffix.]
-ess, fem. suffix of nouns, as lioness, goddess. [Fr. -esse, L. -issa.]
-ess, -ice, -ise, as prowess, justice, merchandise. Note that riches was mistaken for a plural, being really M. E. richesse—Fr. richesse. [L. -itia, -ities, Late L. -icia, Fr. -esse.]
-est, as in harvest, earnest.
-est, suffix of 2d sing. in verbs, as bringest. [A.S. -ast, -est; L. -es, -isti; Gr. -si, -sthon. -s or -st = 2d pers. pron., Gr. sy (su), L. tu, Eng. thou.]
-est, superl. suffix, formed from the compar. by adding -t, as smallest. [A.S. -est (in adjectives), -ost (in adverbs); L. -issimus, Gr. -istos, -stos, -tatos. Sans. -ishta.]
-et, -ete, noun suffix, marking the agent, as prophet, poet, athlete. [L. -ēta, Gr. -ētēs.]
-et, -ette, -ot, dim., as cygnet, billet, etiquette, ballot. See also -let. [Norm. Fr. -et, -ot; Fr. -et, -ette.]
-eur. See under -or.
-ever, at any time, as whoever, every one who. [See Ever in Dict.]
-fare, way, as in welfare, chaffer. [See Fare in Dict.]
-fast, adj. suffix, as in steadfast, shamefaced (A.S. scamfæst). [A.S. fæst, firm, fast.]
-fold, adj. suffix, as fourfold, manifold. [A.S. -feald.]
-ful, full of, as delightful. [A.S. -full.]
-fy, a verbal suffix signifying to make, as purify. [Fr. -fier—L. -fic-āre, for fac-ĕre, to make.]
-head, -hood, noun suffix, denoting state, nature, as Godhead, manhood, likelihood, hardihood. Note that livelihood was in A.S. líflád=líf, life + lád, way; the second part ceased to be understood, and thus -lihood took its place. [From A.S. hád, Ger. -heit, state; changed into Hood.]
-i, pl. suffix of nouns in -us, as in literati [L. -i; conn. with Ger. -ai, -oi]; also pl. suffix of nouns borrowed from It., as banditti [It.—L.].
-ian, adj. suffix, as Arabian, Christian. See -an. [L. -ianus; Fr. -ien.]
-ible, adj. suffix, as possible, flexible. [From L. -ibilis, another form of -abilis. See -able.]
-ic, adj. suffix, of or belonging to, as gigantic, public, voltaic. Also largely used as noun suffix, as fabric. [L. -icus, -ica, -icum, Gr. -ikos; Fr. -ic, -igne.]
-ical, adj. suffix, belonging to, as cubical, whimsical. [-ic and -al.]
-ice, noun suffix, as chalice [Fr.—L. -ex, -icis]; novice [Fr.—L. -icius]. [See another -ice under -ess, -ice, -ise.]
-icism. See -ism.
-ics, lit. things that belong to a science, as mathematics. [In imitation of Gr. -ika, neuter pl. of adjs. in -ikos. See -ic.]
-id, noun suffix, as Nereid; also used in coining chemical words, as chloride, oxide, bromide [L. -id-, Gr. -id-, Fr. -ide]. Also adj. suffix, as tepid, acid, morbid [L. -idus].
-ie, -y, dim., as lassie. [From -ick, a weakened form of -ock.]
-ier, noun suffix, one who, as cavalier, clothier, brazier, hosier. [Fr. -ier; usually appears in form -eer.]
-iff. See -ive.
-il, -ile, able, as civil, ductile. [L. -ĭlis, from verbal roots, -īlis, from noun-stems; to be distinguished from -ile (below). See -able.]
-ile, belonging to, as Gentile. [L. -ilis.]
-im, pl. suffix, as cherubim. [Heb. îm.]
-ina, fem. suffix, as czarina. [See -en, fem.]
-ine, fem. suffix, as heroine. [See -en, fem.]
-ine, -in, noun suffix, as ravine, medicine, cousin; much used in chemical compounds, as iodine, glycerine, bromine. Also adj. suffix, as adamantine, divine. [L. -inus, -ina; Fr. -in.]
-ing, suffix of present participles (often used as adjectives), as loving, charming. [Corr. of A.S. -ende, which, as also -ande, it replaced. See -nd, also -ant, -ent.]
-ing, noun suffix, forming nouns of action from verbs, as living, dwelling; these often acquire a concrete sense, as learning. [A.S. -ung, -ing; Ger. -ung.]
-ing, representing Teut. ingoz (masc.), with several functions—(1) -ing (A.S. -ing), patronymic æðeling (the son of a noble), cyning (lit. 'son of a king,' cyne = king), Elising (the son of Elisa). This suffix is preserved in proper names, as Harding, Manning; esp. in place-names, as Billingsgate, Reading. (2) -ing is also found in names of animals, as in herring, whiting. (3) -ing in names of coins has also a sense of diminution, as in farthing (the fourth part, viz., of a penny), shilling.
-ion, -sion, -tion, -son, -som, being, state of being, as opinion, rebellion, religion, tension, poison, ransom, reason, season, creation. [L. -io, -tio, -sio; Fr. -ion, -sion, -tion.]
-ior, more, term. of comp. degree, as superior. [L. -ior. See -er, more.]
-ique, belonging to, as antique. [Fr.—L. -iquus; conn. with -ic, L. -icus. See -ac.]
-ise, -ize, verbal suffix, signifying to make; as equalise. [L. -izāre, from Gr. -izein; Fr. -iser.]
-ise, noun suffix. See -ice.
-ish, adj. suffix, ethnic, as Irish; signifying somewhat, as brownish, oldish; sometimes implying depreciation, as outlandish, childish. [A.S. -isc.]
-ish, verbal suffix, signifying to make, as establish. [From Fr. pr.p. suffix -iss-ant; chiefly used in words from the Fr. The Fr. -iss- is from L. -esc-, inceptive.]
-isk, dim., as asterisk. [Gr. -iskos; conn. with -ish, little. See -ock.]
-ism, -asm, -icism, forming abstract nouns sig. condition, system, as egoism, deism, Calvinism, laconism, pleonasm; Anglicism, witticism. [L. -ismus, -asmus—Gr. -ismos, -asmos.]
-ist, denoting the person who holds a doctrine or practises an art, as Calvinist, chemist, novelist, artist, royalist, nihilist. [L. -ista—Gr. -istēs.]
-ite, -it, noun suffix, born in, belonging to, as Israelite, Jesuit. [L. -ita—Gr. -itēs.]
-itude, noun suffix, as fortitude, multitude. [L. -itudo.]
-ive (-iff), forming nouns, orig. an adjectival suffix, as bailiff, captive, native, plaintiff; forming adjectives (L. -ivus), as active, extensive, furtive.
-ix, fem. suffix, as testatrix. [L. -ix, -icis. Conn. with -ess, fem. suffix.]
-ize, to make, same as -ise.
-k, a verbal suffix, freq. or intens., as hark, lurk, talk, walk.
-kin, dim., as bumpkin, firkin, lambkin, mannikin, napkin; also in proper names, as Jenkins (John), Perkins (Peterkin), Wilkins (William). [A.S. -cen—very rare, the currency of the suffix being due to words adopted from Dutch or Low German; Ger. -chen.]
-kind, noun suffix, kind, race, as mankind, womankind. [See -kin above.]
-l, -le, -el (after v, th, ch, n), represents A.S. -el, -ela, -ele, and serves to form agent-nouns, instrumental substantives, and diminutives, as nail, sail; beadle, fiddle, sickle, apple, bramble, bundle, icicle, nettle; runnel. -al is sometimes from A.S. -els from isli, as bridle, riddle, burial. -l, -le, as a verbal suffix, gives to the root the sense of frequency, repetition, diminution, as kneel, drizzle, nestle, sparkle.
-ledge. See -lock (1).
-lence, -lency, forming abstract nouns. [L. -l-entia, from -lens. See -lent.]
-lent, adj. suffix, full of, as violent, virulent. [L. -lentus.]
-less, adj. suffix, free from, wanting, as guiltless, godless. [A.S. -léas, Ger. -los, Goth. -laus.]
-let, dim., as bracelet, leaflet, streamlet. [From -l and -et, dim. in certain words formed with -et on substantives ending in -el.]
-like, like, as godlike. [See Like in Dict.]
-ling, dim., hence expressing affection, as darling (A.S. déorling), duckling, gosling; sometimes implying depreciation, as hireling, groundling, underling, worldling. [A.S. -ling.]
-ling, -long, adv. suffix, as darkling, sidelong. [A.S. -lunga, -linga.]
-lock, noun suffix, in wedlock and knowledge. It is the A.S. lác, the same as lác, sport.
-lock, -lick, noun suffix, being a weakened form of A.S. leác, a leek, as in hemlock, garlic, charlock.
-ly, adj. and adv. suffix, as manly, only, wickedly. [The adj. suffix is from A.S. líc, Eng. like; adv. is from líc-e, dat. of líc.]
-m, noun suffix, as blossom [A.S. blóstma]; fathom [A.S. -ma, -m]; as realm, regime [Fr.,—L. -men].
-ma, noun suffix, as diorama, enema. [Gr.]
-meal, adv. suffix, as inchmeal, piecemeal. [A.S. -mǽlum.]
-men, that which, state, as regimen, acumen. [Only in words borrowed from Latin. L. -men; Sans. -man. See -ment, -mony.]
-ment, noun suffix, as nourishment, establishment, detriment;—of Eng. formation, acknowledgment, employment. [L. -mentum, Fr. -ment. See -men.]
-mony, as testimony, parsimony. [L. -mon-iu-m, -mon-ia. See -men.]
-most, suffix of superl. deg., as endmost. See Most in Dict. [In most cases this suffix is not the word most, the m being part of the root, or an old superl. suffix, and -ost, the superl. suffix, as in inmost=in-m-ost. See -est, superl. suffix.]
-n, in participles, as broken, hewn; in substantives, as bairn, beacon, burden, chin, corn, heaven, maiden.
-nce, -ncy, forming abstract nouns, as distance, decency. [Fr. -nce—L. -nt-ia.]
-nd, as fiend (lit. 'hating'), friend (lit. 'loving'). [A.S. pr.p. suffix.]
-ness, noun suffix, denoting abstract idea, as tenderness, sweetness. [A.S. -nis, -nes, cog. with Ger. -niss.]
-ock, dim., as hillock, bullock—also in proper names, as Pollock (from Paul), &c. In stirk we see the simple suffix -k, the word being the diminutive of steer, A.S. stéor, whence stýric, a stirk. [A.S. -uca—Aryan -ka. See -ie and -ing, dim.]
-om, old dative suffix, now used as objective, as whom; in adverbs of time, as seldom. [A.S. -um.]
-on, -eon, -ion, noun suffix, as capon, mason, truncheon, onion, clarion. [Fr.—L. -onem, ionem.]
-oon, noun suffix, often augmentative, as balloon, saloon. [Fr. -on, It. -one.]
-or, -our, -er, denoting the agent, sometimes directly from L. (see -tor), but mostly through O. Fr. -ŏr, -our (mod. Fr. eur), as emperor (old spelling emperour, Fr. empereur—L. imperatorem); in others, Eng. -er has supplanted -eur, -our, as preacher (Fr. prêcheur—L. prædicatorem), while -or is at times affixed to Eng. roots, as sailor. In certain abstract nouns from L. -or, Fr. -eur is still represented by -our, as colour, labour, honour, and in a few cases directly retained, as in grandeur. The words demeanour and behaviour are English formations with -our.
-ory, belonging to, as prefatory [L. -orius]; place where, as purgatory. [L. -orium.]
-ose, full of, as bellicose, morose, verbose. [L. -osous. See -ous.]
-ot, dim., as ballot. [See -et, dim.]
-our. See -or.
-ous, adj. suffix, as religious, delirious, curious [L. -osus]; dubious, anxious [L. -us].—In righteous the ous has replaced wís, A.S. rihtwís.
-ow, noun suffix, as shadow [from A.S. -u]; swallow [from A.S. -ewe]; marrow [from A.S. -h]. Also adj. suffix, as narrow [from A.S. -u].
-ple. See -ble, fold.
-r, noun suffix, marking the instrument, as stair, timber; adj. suffix, as bitter.
-re, place, as here. [A.S. -r, -ra, orig. a locative suffix.]
-red, noun suffix, denoting manner, state, as hatred, kindred (in A.S. cynren, a shortening of cynn-ryne, in M. E. the meaningless -ren being supplanted by -red). [A.S. -rǽden; cog. with Ger. -rath. See Read in Dict.]
-red, in hundred. This is cog. with Ice. hundrað, Ger. hundert, the suffix implying number, reckoning.
-ric, noun suffix, formerly an independent word denoting dominion, power, region, as bishopric. [A.S. ríce, power.]
-right, as upright, downright. [A.S. riht.]
-ry, noun suffix, originally with a collective meaning, as chevalerie, 'body of knights;' now expressing action or quality, as bigotry, pedantry, sorcery; condition, as outlawry, slavery; trade, as carpentry, heraldry; the place of action or occupation, as laundry, nursery; the result or product of action, as poetry, tapestry; forming collective nouns, as infantry, yeomanry. [Fr. rie = er + ie.]
-s, adverbial suffix, as needs, always, once, hence, thence, whil-s-t, betwi-x-t. [A.S. -es, gen. suffix.]
-'s, is the present genitive suffix. [Short for A.S. -es—Aryan -s or sya, orig. a demons. pron. The (') is prob. due to a false notion that this -s was a relic of his.]
-s, -se, verbal suffix, making transitive verbs from adjectives, as cleanse (A.S. clǽnsian), rinse (Ice. hreinsa—hreinn, pure). It also occurs in clasp, grasp, put for clap-s, grap-s.
-ship, -scape, noun suffix, as friendship, stewardship, worship, landscape (earlier landskip, the Dut. landschap). [A.S. scipe, shape, form—scapan; cog. with Ger. -schaft.]
-sis, action or state, as thesis. [Gr.]
-some, adj. suffix, full of, as gladsome, buxom (orig. 'pliable,' 'good-natured,' A.S. búhsum, lissome, from búgan, to bow, bend). [A.S. -sum, Ger. -sam; a by-form of same.]
-son, son, as Johnson.
-son, in arson, reason, treason, the same as -tion (q.v.).
-st. See -est, suffix of 2d sing.
-ster marks the agent, as maltster, and in the personal names (orig. trade-names) Baxter, Brewster, Webster; often with depreciation, as gamester, punster. [A.S. -estre, a fem. suffix, which now keeps this sense only in spinster.]
-stress, fem. suffix, as songstress. [From -ster, orig. fem. suffix, with the addition of L. -ess.]
-sy, state, as pleurisy. [Same as -sis.]
-t. See -d.
-t, -te, adj. and noun suffix, as convent, fact, chaste, tribute. [L. -tus, pa.p. suffix; cog. with -d, pa.p. suffix.]
-teen, ten to be added, as fourteen. [A.S. -tyne. Cf. -ty, ten to be multiplied.]
-ter, noun suffix, as character. [Gr. -ter, L. -tor, Sans. -tri; perh. conn. with -ster.]
-ter, -ther, as in after, hither. [A.S. -der, -ther, old comp. suffix.]
-th, order, as sixth. [Becomes also -d; conn. with L. -tus, -tius, as in L. quartus, fourth.]
-th, suffix of 3d pers. sing. of verbs, now for the most part softened to -s. [A.S. from root -ta, which appears in L. -t, Gr. -ti, -si, -tai, -to.]
-th, -t, noun suffix, as in strength, height; see under -d (pa.p. suffix).
-ther, denoting the agent, as father, mother. [Cf. -tor.]
-ther. See -ter, -ther.
-tor, the agent, as conductor. See -ther, and cf. -or, -our, -er.
-tor-y, -sor-y, noun suffix, denoting place, as dormitory.
-tude forms abstract nouns, as gratitude. [L. -tudo.]
-ty, being or state of being, as dignity; quality, as honesty. [L. -tas, -tatem; O. Fr. -té.]
-ty, ten to be multiplied, as sixty. [A.S. -tig; cog. with Ger. -zig. Cf. -teen.]
-ule, little, dim. [from L. -ulus, -ula, -ulum], as in globule, pustule; also -cule [L. -culus, -cula, -culum], as animalcule, or [through Fr.] -cle, as article. A different Latin suffix -culum, forming substantives from verbs, is represented in the form -cle in several words adopted through French, as miracle, oracle, spectacle.
-um, neuter term., as medium. [L. -um, Gr. -on.]
-uncle, little, dim., as peduncle. [L. -un-cu-lus, A.S. -incle; conn. with -en and -cule, diminutives.]
-ure, noun suffix, denoting act of, as capture; state of being, as verdure.—In leisure and pleasure, -ir has been replaced by -ure, O. Fr. leisir, plaisir. [L. -ura; Fr. -ure.]
-urnal, belonging to, as diurnal. [L. -urn-us and -al; conn. with -ern (in modern).]
-ward, -wards, forming adjectives from substantives, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions, as eastward, homeward, homewards; downward, forward, inward, toward. [A.S. -weard, gen. -weardes, cog. with Ger. -wärts; conn. with A.S. weorthan, to be, and L. versus—vertĕre, to turn.]
-way, -ways, adv. suffix, sig. manner, direction, as alway, always, straightway. [Cf. -wise.]
-wise, way, manner, as likewise, also righteous. [A.S. -wíse, manner; Ger. -wiss.]
-worth, adj. suffix, as stalworth, stalwart. [A.S. weorð, wurð.]
-y, adj. suffix, as spongy [from L. -iosus]; as jolly [Norm. Fr. -if from L. -ivus; cf. -ive]; as silly, dirty, any [A.S. -ig; cog. with Ger. -ig, Goth. -ha, -ga, L. -cu-s, Gr. -ko-s].
-y, noun suffix, as story, family, Italy [Fr. -ie, L. -ia]; as augury, joy, remedy [from L. -ium]; as ally, clergy, deputy, treaty [from L. -ātus, Fr. -é]; as progeny [from L. -ies]; as army, country, entry [from L. -āta, Fr. ée]; as body [from A.S. -ig]; and perhaps the modern Eng. in forming diminutives or words of contempt, as puppy, baby, lassie, from pup, babe, lass; Billy from Bill; Betsy, Lizzie, &c.
-yer, as in lawyer. See -er, noun suffix.