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Sufx Meaning Examples Function or Characteristic Usage
Notes in this column refer to common
functions of these sufxes. However,
these are generalizations only, and you
will nd 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,
deance
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 specic
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,
ofce
freedom, kingdom, wisdom,
thralldom
noun
ee one who receives
the action
employee, nominee, refugee noun
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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
c making, causing scientic, specic 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
uid, uoride, 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
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ite nature of, quality
of
dynamite, graphite, sulte,
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 awed 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
an " !" indicates a transformation from one part of speech to another
Copyright Jessica DeForest, 2000. All rights reserved