|
Suffix
|
Meaning
|
Examples
|
Function or Characteristic Usage
Notes in this column refer to common functions
of these suffixes. However, these are
generalizations only, and you will find
exceptions to many of them.
|
|
able, ible
|
able, can do
|
capable, agreeable, visible
|
verb ® adjective
|
|
ade
|
result of action
|
blockade, lemonade
|
verb or noun ® noun
|
|
age
|
act of, state of, collection
of
|
salvage, storage, forage
|
added to root words (often French) to form a
noun
|
|
al
|
relating to
|
sensual, gradual, manual,
natural
|
verb or noun ® adjective
|
|
algia
|
pain
|
neuralgia
|
noun
|
|
an, ian
|
native of, pertaining
to
|
American, Martian, antediluvian
|
noun ® adjective
|
|
ance, ancy
|
action, process, state
|
assistance, allowance,
defiance
|
verb ® noun
|
|
ant
|
performing, agent
|
assistant, servant
|
verb ® noun
|
|
ary, ery, ory
|
relating to, quality, place
where
|
dictionary, bravery, dormitory, aviary,
ordinary
|
noun or adjective
adjective ® noun
adjective or noun ® noun
|
|
ate
|
cause, make
|
liquidate, segregate
|
noun or adjective ® verb
|
|
cian
|
having a specific skill
|
magician, optician, physician
|
noun
|
|
cule, ling
|
very small
|
molecule, miniscule,
|
noun or adjective
|
|
cy
|
action, function
|
advocacy, hesitancy, prophecy,
normalcy
|
noun
|
|
dom
|
quality, realm, office
|
freedom, kingdom, wisdom,
thralldom
|
noun
|
|
ee
|
one who receives the
action
|
employee, nominee, refugee
|
noun
|
|
en
|
made of, make
|
silken, frozen, oaken,
wooden, lighten
|
adjective or verb (ex:
widen)
|
|
ence, ency
|
action, state of, quality
|
difference, conference,
urgency
|
noun
|
|
er, or
|
on who, that which
|
baker, carpenter, brewer
|
noun
|
|
escent
|
in the process of
|
adolescent, obsolescent,
convalescent
|
adjective or noun
|
|
ese
|
a native of
|
Javanese, Vietnamese
|
noun or adjective
|
|
esis, osis
|
action, process,
condition
|
genesis, hypnosis, neurosis,
osmosis
|
noun
|
|
ess
|
female
|
poetess, goddess
|
noun
|
|
et, ette
|
small one, group
|
midget, octet, baronet,
|
noun
|
|
fic
|
making, causing
|
scientific, specific
|
adjective
|
|
ful
|
full of
|
frightful, beautiful,
helpful
|
adjective
|
|
fy
|
make
|
fortify, simplify
|
verb
|
|
hood
|
order, quality
|
neighborhood, motherhood
|
noun
|
|
ic
|
nature of, like
|
metallic, heroic, poetic
|
adjective
|
|
ice
|
condition, state, quality
|
justice, malice
|
noun
|
|
id, ide
|
something connected to
or belonging to
|
fluid, fluoride, torrid,
canid
|
noun or adjective
|
|
ine
|
having the nature or
characteristic of
|
feminine, masculine,
medicine
|
adjective or noun
|
|
ion, sion, tion
|
act of, state of, result
of
|
contagion, infection,
aversion
|
noun
|
|
ish
|
origin, nature, resembling
|
Spanish, foolish,
|
noun ® adjective (however, often the adjective is
used as a noun. ex: "The Spanish" meaning the
people of Spain)
|
|
ism
|
system, manner,
condition
|
alcoholism, feminism, heroism,
communism
|
noun
|
|
ist
|
one who, that which
|
pianist, elitist
|
noun
verb ® noun
|
|
ite
|
nature of, quality of
|
dynamite, graphite, sulfite,
neophyte
|
noun or adjective
verb or adjective ® adjective or noun
|
|
ity, ty
|
state of, quality
|
captivity, clarity
|
noun
|
|
ive
|
causing
|
conclusive, festive,
restive, abusive
|
adjective or nouns derived
from adjectives
|
|
ize
|
to make (like)
|
emphasize, anthropomorphize
|
verb
|
|
less
|
without
|
worthless, mindless,
guileless
|
adjective
|
|
ly
|
like
|
clearly, fearlessly
|
adverb
|
|
ment
|
act of, result
|
contentment, amendment
|
noun
verb ® noun
|
|
ness
|
state of
|
carelessness, uselessness
|
adjective ® noun
|
|
oid
|
like (often suggests
flawed or partial
resemblance)
|
asteroid, tabloid, anthropoid,
rhomboid, ovoid
|
noun or adjective ® noun or adjective that is
similar to or has the qualities of the original word
|
|
(o)logy
|
study, science, theory
|
biology
|
noun
|
|
|
1. readin'
