SUFFIX

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
!merican, "artian,
antediluvian
noun adjective
ance, anc# action, process,
state
assistance, allowance,
defiance
verb noun
ant performing, agent assistant, servant verb noun
ar#, er#,
or#
relating to, $ualit#,
place where
dictionar#, braver#,
dormitor#, aviar#, ordinar#
noun or adjective
adjective noun
adjective or noun noun
ate cause, make li$uidate, segregate noun or adjective verb
cian having a specific
skill
magician, optician, ph#sician noun
cule, ling ver# small molecule, miniscule, noun or adjective
c# action, function advocac#, hesitanc#,
prophec#, normalc#
noun
dom $ualit#, realm,
office
freedom, kingdom, wisdom,
thralldom
noun
ee one who receives
the action
emplo#ee, nominee, refugee noun
en made of, make silken, fro%en, oaken,
wooden, lighten
adjective or verb (e&' widen
ence, enc# action, state of,
$ualit#
difference, conference,
urgenc#
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 (avanese, )ietnamese noun or adjective
esis, osis action, process,
condition
genesis, h#pnosis, 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
f# make fortif#, simplif# verb
hood order, $ualit# neighborhood, motherhood noun
ic nature of, like metallic, heroic, poetic adjective
ice condition, state,
$ualit#
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* e&' +,he
Spanish+ meaning the people of Spain
ism s#stem, manner,
condition
alcoholism, feminism,
heroism, communism
noun
ist one who, that
which
pianist, elitist noun
verb noun
ite nature of, $ualit#
of
d#namite, graphite, sulfite,
neoph#te
noun or adjective
verb or adjective adjective or noun
it#, t# state of, $ualit# captivit#, clarit# noun
ive causing conclusive, festive, restive,
abusive
adjective or nouns derived from
adjectives
i%e to make (like emphasi%e, anthropomorphi%e verb
less without worthless, mindless, guileless adjective
l# like clearl#, fearlessl# 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 $ualities of
the original word
(olog# stud#, science,
theor#
biolog# noun
an + + indicates a transformation from one part of speech to another