Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE, 1995).

COMBINING FORMS
Combining forms are word beginnings or word endings which can be used to make grammatical
forms, to give a particular meaning, or to change the part of speech of a word. In English, the
most common combining forms are word endings.
Word endings used to make grammatical forms
For example, the past simple of many verbs is formed by adding the ending ed, and the
comparative of many adjectives is formed by adding er.
Word endings used to add meanings or change the part of speech
Some word endings, often called suffixes, add or change meaning. For example the ending ism is
often used to form nouns which refer to beliefs or ways of behaving: nationalism, pacifism,
Buddhism. Very often when a word ending is added in this way the part of speech of the word is
changed. For example, the ending en changes the adjective black into the verb to blacken (=
cause something to become black). The following table gives the meaning(s) of important word
endings and shows how they change the part of speech of the word.

FORMING VERBS
-EN ADJECTIVE VERB to cause to have or increase the stated quality
fresh freshen black blacken thick thicken fat - fatten
-IFY ADJECTIVE/NOUN VERB to cause an increase in the stated quality; to
become
simple simplify pure purify solid solidify beauty - beautify

-IZE/-ISE ADJECTIVE VERB to cause to become
(in Bri tish and Australian English these words are usually spell ed ise.)

central centralize commercial commercialize modern modernize standard -
standardize
FORMING ADVERBS
-LY ADJECTIVE ADVERB in the stated way
loud loudly happy happily careful carefully sudden suddenly
NOUN ADVERB/ ADJECTIVE happening at the stated regular direction or place. (Usually th -ly
form can also be used as an adjective.)
hour hourly year yearly day daily night - nightly
-WARD(S) PREPOSITION/NOUN ADVERB towards the stated direction or
place. (The ward form can also be used as an adjective.)
down downwards earth earthwards home homeward in - inward

Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE, 1995).

FORMING NOUNS
-AGE VERB NOUN the action described by the verb, or its result
break breakage waste wastage marry marriage spill - spillage
-AL VERB NOUN the action described by the verb
approve approval bury burial arrive arrival remove - removal
-AN/-IAN/-EAN NOUN NOUN a person who studies the stated subject, or who
belongs to the stated place or group
history historian Europe European Paris Parisian
Mohammed - Mohammedan
-ANCE/-ENCE VERB NOUN the action or series of actions described by the verb, or
the state or quality described.
perform performance disappear disappearance defy defiance
prefer preference
ADJECTIVE ENDING ANT/ENT NOUN
brilliant brilliance distant distance absent absence silent - silence
-EE VERB NOUN the person to whom the action of the verb is being
done
employ employee address addressee interview interviewee train - trainee
-ER/-OR VERB NOUN the person or device that does the activity
(person) run runner employ employer act actor collect collector
(device) cook cooker time timer generate generator indicate - indicator
-FUL NOUN NOUN the amount of something needed to fill the stated
container or place
spoon spoonful hand handful house houseful bag - bagful
-ION/-ATION / -ITION /-ISION VERB NOUN the process or condition connected with the
verb
educate education tax taxation add addition collide - collision
-ISM ADJECTIVE NOUN social, political or religious beliefs or ways of
behaving
modern modernism consumer consumerism military militarism
Buddha - Buddhism
-IST ADJECTIVE/NOUN NOUN a person with a particular set of beliefs or
ways of behaving, or with knowledge of an area of study
Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE, 1995).

extreme extremist Marxism Marxist economy economist science - scientist
-ITY ADJECTIVE NOUN the state of quality referred by the adjective
sincere sincerity generous generosity fluid fluidity acid - acidity
-MENT VERB NOUN the action or process described the verb, or its result
govern government invest investment develop development
disappoint - disappointment
-NESS ADJECTIVE NOUN the quality or condition described by the adjective
happy happiness ill illness dark darkness clever cleverness

FORMING ADJECTIVES
-ABLE/ -IBLE VERB ADJECTIVE used to add the meaning 'that can be' or 'worth
being'
avoid avoidable bend bendable desire desirable admire - admirable
-AL NOUN ADJECTIVE connected with the stated thing
nation national culture cultural emotion emotional nature - natural
-AN/-EAN / -IAN NOUN ADJECTIVE connected with or belonging to the stated place,
group or type
America American Rome Roman suburb suburban Sagittarius - Sagittarian
-FUL VERB/NOUN ADJECTIVE having the stated quality to a high degree,
or causing it
power powerful hope hopeful fear fearful delight - delightful
-ISH NOUN ADJECTIVE connected with the stated country
Britain British Poland Polish
NOUN ADJECTIVE (disapproving) being like the stated thing
baby babish fool foolish
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE used to add the meaning 'to some degree'
Young youngish red reddish short shortish new - newish
-LY NOUN ADJECTIVE like the stated person or thing
father fatherly coward cowardly friend friendly heaven heavenly