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Common Suffixes in English: Suffix Meaning Example

This document provides a summary of common suffixes used in the English language and their meanings. It outlines noun suffixes such as -acy and -ness, verb suffixes like -ate and -ify, and adjective suffixes including -able, -al, and -ish. Suffixes can indicate states, qualities, processes, or ones who perform certain acts. Knowing common suffixes helps with understanding word origins and meanings in English.

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106 views2 pages

Common Suffixes in English: Suffix Meaning Example

This document provides a summary of common suffixes used in the English language and their meanings. It outlines noun suffixes such as -acy and -ness, verb suffixes like -ate and -ify, and adjective suffixes including -able, -al, and -ish. Suffixes can indicate states, qualities, processes, or ones who perform certain acts. Knowing common suffixes helps with understanding word origins and meanings in English.

Uploaded by

ELIOTPLATA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Common Suffixes in English

Noun Suffixes
Suffix Meaning Example
-acy state or quality privacy, fallacy, delicacy
-al act or process of refusal, recital, rebuttal
-ance, - state or quality of maintenance, eminence, assurance
ence
-dom place or state of freedom, kingdom, boredom
being
-er, -or one who trainer, protector, narrator
-ism doctrine, belief communism, narcissism, scepticism
-ist one who chemist, narcissist, plagiarist
-ity, -ty quality of inactivity, veracity, parity, serenity
-ment condition of argument, endorsement, punishment
-ness state of being heaviness, sadness, rudeness, testiness
-ship position held fellowship, ownership, kinship,
internship
-sion, -tion state of being concession, transition, abbreviation

Verb Suffixes
-ate become regulate, eradicate, enunciate, repudiate
-en become enlighten, awaken, strengthen
-ify, -fy make or become terrify, satisfy, rectify, exemplify
-ize, -ise* become civilize, humanize, socialize, valorize

Adjective Suffixes
-able, -ible capable of being edible, presentable, abominable, credible
-al pertaining to regional, grammatical, emotional, coastal
-esque reminiscent of picturesque, statuesque, burlesque
-ful notable for fanciful, resentful, woeful, doubtful
-ic, -ical pertaining to musical, mythic, domestic, chiastic
-ious, -ous characterized by nutritious, portentous, studious
-ish having the quality of fiendish, childish, snobbish
-ive having the nature of creative, punitive, divisive, decisive
-less without endless, ageless, lawless, effortless
-y characterized by sleazy, hasty, greasy, nerdy, smelly

Verbs can end with either -ize (the American spelling) or -ise (the British
spelling). Examples include finalize/finalise and realize/realise.

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