Hinweis

affixes.org
-onym

"-onym" Also "-onymy", "-onymic", and "-onymous".

A name. [Greek onuma, name.]

The ending principally appears in words that describe kinds of words. See the table below for some examples.

Abstract nouns for the state or concept are formed in "-onymy": "homonymy", "metonymy", "toponymy".

Adjectives are formed in "-onymic" or "-onymous", sometimes both, though the former is rather more common ("eponymous", "metonymic", "synonymous", "toponymic").

Examples of words in -onym (All word origins are from Greek.)

• "acronym" a word formed from the initial letters of other words "akron", "end", "tip"
• "anonym" an anonymous person or publication, or a pseudonym "an-", "without"
• "antonym" a word opposite in meaning to another "anti-", "against"
• "cryptonym" a code name "kruptos", "hidden"
• "eponym" a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, or the like is named or thought to be named "epi", "upon"
• "heteronym" each of two or more words which are spelled identically but have different sounds and meanings "heteros", "other"
• "homonym" each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins "homos", "same"
• "hyponym" a word of more specific meaning, a subcategory of a more general class "hupo", "under"
• "metonym" a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated "metonumia", "change of name"
• "pseudonym" a fictitious name, especially one used by an author "pseudes", "false"
• "synonym" a word or phrase that means the same as another word or phrase in the same language "sun-", "with"
• "toponym" a place name, especially one derived from a topographical feature "topos", "place"

-ance-, -ancy-, -ence-, -ency- (W2)

• dependence : dependency - 1.44
• coherence : coherency - 1.56
• valence : valency - 11.47
• relevance : relevancy - 20.66

chir.ag
Tip of My Tongue
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dummies
Meeting the Most Often Used Suffixes

Some suffixes are used so frequently in the English language that you may not even think of them - much less recognize them - as suffixes. These include -d/-ed, which are used to indicate tense on a verb, and -s/-es, which are used to indicate number. Other suffixes are easy to identify, but you see them so often that they merit mention right up front.
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-ice- (W3)

-ice n suffix -s ME "-ice", "-ise", fr. OF, fr. L "-itius" (masc.), "-itia" (fem.), "-itium" (neut.), suffixes forming adjectives and nouns; akin to Gk "-sios", Skt "-tya": "act" (service) : "quality" (justice) : "condition" (cowardice)

-ise- (W3)

"-ise" vb suffix : "-ize" see spelling note 2.10 on page 24a of Webster's Third New International Dictionary

The endings ‘-ise’ and ‘-ize’
...
The broad rule is that the -ize forms are standard in the US, but that -ise ones are now usual in Britain and the Commonwealth in all but formal writing.
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-ism (W3)

Merriam-Webster’s 2015 Word of the Year Isn’t Even a Word

By Mark Nichol
...
"terrorism", ..., the word was first used in the late eighteenth century, and of course the strategy is as old as political organization.
"racism", ...,
"socialism", ..., "communism"


In my first paragraph, I suggested that "-ism" is ineligible for Word of the Year recognition because it’s not a word; it’s a "morpheme", a unit of meaning (usually a prefix or a suffix) that is not an independent component of language. But later in the post, I twice wrote "ism" (once in plural form, and then in singular construction) as if it’s a word. Why? Because it is a word, used to refer collectively to a nebulous set of social concepts.

But "-ism", by virtue of that hyphen, is a mere morpheme with a different meaning: Unlike "ism", it does not stand on its own to refer to a category of concepts; it is a suffix subordinate to the many nouns it serves, altering the noun’s meaning to denote a system of thought related to that noun.

-ize- (W3)

Forming verbs.
[French "-iser", via late Latin "-izare" from Greek verbs ending in "-izein".]
...

hyphenated adjectives: "-ise" and "-ize"

"-ize" forms verbs from nouns and adjectives "formalize", "jeopardize", "legalize", "modernize", "emphasize", "hospitalize", "industrialize", "computerize"

Amazon-ized

"-ized" - Strange American way of ending words. A no-brainer way of turning nouns into verbs. Frowned upon by many pedants.
e.g., British English: The burglar burgled the house. American English: The burglar burglarized the house.

"-ize", a verb-forming suffix occurring originally in loanwords from Greek that have entered English through Latin or French ("baptize"; "barbarize"; "catechize"); within English, "-ize" is added to adjectives and nouns to form transitive verbs with the general senses "to render", "to make" ("actualize"; "fossilize"; "sterilize"; "Americanize"), "to convert into", "give a specified character or form to" ("computerize"; "dramatize"; "itemize"; "motorize"), "to subject to (as a process, sometimes named after its originator)" ("hospitalize"; "terrorize"; "galvanize"; "oxidize"; "simonize"; "winterize"). Also formed with "-ize" are a more heterogeneous group of verbs, usually intransitive, denoting a change of state ("crystallize"), kinds or instances of behavior ("apologize"; "moralize"; "tyrannize"), or activities ("economize"; "philosophize"; "theorize").
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"-ize" vb suffix -ED/-ing/-S see spelling note 2.10 on page 24a of Webster's Third New International Dictionary [ME "-isen", fr. OF "-iser", fr. LL "-izare", fr. Gk "-izein"]

• 1 a (1) : "to cause", "to be" or "become" or "conform to" or "be like" or "resemble" (something specified) ("systemize", "americanize", "liquidize") : "cause", "to be formed into" ("unionize", "diphthongize")
• 1 a (2) : "to subject", "to action by" or "treatment of" (something specified) ("criticize"), subject to a (specified) action ("plagiarize")
• 1 a (3) : "to cause", "to have" or "appear to have" some (specified) quality ("rationalize") : "act upon in such a way as to produce a (specified) result in "brutalize", "commercialize"
• 1 a (4) : "to impregnate" or "treat" or "combine with" (something specified) ("albuminize", "hydrogenize")
• 1 a (5) : "to adapt to" (something specified) : "modify by means of" ("avianize")
• 1 b : "to make (a specified thing) of" : "treat like" ("idolize", "lionize")
• 1 c : "to treat in the manner of" or "according to the method" or "process of" (a specified individual) ("bowdlerize", "mesmerize")
• 2 a : "to become" or "become like" (something specified) ("crystallize")
• 2 b : "to be productive in or of" (something specified) ("theorize") : "engage in" or "carry on" a (specified) activity ("botanize", "philosophize", "attitudinize", "concertize")
• 2 c : "to follow after someone or something" (specified) : "to adopt" or "spread the manner of activity or the outlook" or "teaching of someone" ("calvinize")

Word Unit: "-ize" (Latin: a suffix; "to act in a certain way"; "to treat in a certain way"; "to make into"; "to treat with"; "to do"; "to make"; "to cause").

These word entries are just a small listing of the many words that exist with the -ize endings; so, be aware that there are many more words with this suffix which exist in this lexicon.

Another closely related suffix family with the same meanings, but a different spelling, is located at this "-ise" unit.
...

The endings ‘-ise’ and ‘-ize’
...
The broad rule is that the -ize forms are standard in the US, but that -ise ones are now usual in Britain and the Commonwealth in all but formal writing.
...

-ness (W3)

"-ness", word-forming element denoting action, quality, or state, attached to an adjective or past participle to form an abstract noun, from Old English "-nes", "-ness", from Proto-Germanic "*in-assu-" (cognates: Old Saxon "-nissi", Middle Dutch "-nisse", Dutch "-nis", Old High German "-nissa", German "-nis", Gothic "-inassus"), from "*-in-", originally belonging to the noun stem, + "*-assu-", abstract noun suffix, probably from the same root as Latin "-tudo" (see "-tude").

Words related to "-ness"

| -tude | absoluteness | activeness | alertness | aliveness | amenableness | americanness | apartness | aptness | assertiveness | attentiveness | awareness | awkwardness | backwardness | badness | baldness | bareness | barrenness | baseness | beingness | betweenness | bigness | bitterness | blackness | blindness | blondness | bloodiness | blueness | bluntness | brightness | brotherliness | business | busyness | calmness | carefulness | carelessness | casualness | cheapness | chubbiness | cleanliness | cleanness | clearness | closeness | coldness | commonness | compactness | completeness | conciseness | consciousness | contrariness | coolness | correctness | craziness | crossness | darkness | deadness | deafness | dearness | deepness | deliciousness | directness | dizziness | dreariness | drunkenness | dryness | dumbness | effectiveness | emptiness | evenness | exactness | extremeness | faintness | fairness | falseness | fastness | fatness | feebleness | femaleness | fewness | feyness | fineness | fitness | flatness | fondness | foolishness | forgiveness | forwardness | foulness | frankness | freeness | freshness | fullness | gaudiness | gentleness | giddiness | gladness | godliness | goodness | goofiness | graciousness | grandness | greatness | greediness | greenness | grievousness | grimness | grossness | guiltiness | happiness | hardness | harshness | haughtiness | heaviness | hiddenness | hideousness | highness | holiness | hollowness | homelessness | homeliness | horniness | hotness | humaneness | humanness | humbleness | idleness | illness | impoliteness | impulsiveness | inconsiderateness | inertness | in-itselfness | interconnectedness | inwardness | isness | jewishness | jolliness | justness | keenness | kindness | lameness | largeness | lasciviousness | lateness | laziness | leanness | lightness | likeliness | likeness | littleness | livingness | loneliness | loneness | looseness | loudness | loveliness | lowliness | lowness | madness | maleness | maliciousness | manliness | meagerness | meanness | meekness | meticulousness | mightiness | mildness | mindfulness | moodiness | moroseness | muchness | mushiness | muteness | nakedness | narrowness | nativeness | naturalness | newness | niceness | nobleness | nothingness | numbness | oddness | oldness | oneness | openness | otherness | outness | partialness | passiveness | plainness | plumpness | poorness | preciseness | preparedness | prettiness | promptness | prosiness | queerness | quickness | readiness | recklessness | redness | richness | righteousness | rottenness | roughness | roundness | sadness | saltiness | sameness | sandiness | sauciness | scantness | seriousness | setness | sexiness | sharpness | shortness | sickness | silliness | simpleness | skewness | slackness | slowness | slyness | smallness | smartness | smoothness | softness | soundness | sourness | steepness | stiffness | stillness | sweetness | thickness | tiredness | togetherness | toughness | ugliness | uncleanness | unfairness | unhappiness | unkindness | unpleasantness | vindictiveness | weakness | wellness | wetness | whiteness | wholeness | wickedness | wilderness | wildness | witness |

"-tude", syllable formed when the word-forming element "-ude", making abstract nouns from adjectives and participles, is fixed to a base or to another suffix ending in "-t" or "-te"; from French "-ude", from Latin "-udo" (stem "-udin-"). The equivalent of native "-ness".

Related Entries

• -ness
• attitudinal
• finitude
• magnitude
• multitude
• negritude
• valetudinarian

prefixsuffix.com
English Language Roots
Word Prefixes, Suffixes & Syllables

We improved our chart-based site, adding features such as a "root word search engine" which gives you access to over 2,000 root words, making our site one of the most comprehensive online references of English language word roots.

A Really Quick Primer

Because you came here, you know already that a word whose meaning you don't know can be broken down into smaller parts and analyzed, a mental process students go through for vocabulary tests. The core part of such an analysis is to identify root words that hint at the word's overall meaning.

As an example, take the word "introspect". It is broken down into the root "spect", meaning "to look", and the prefix "intro", which adds the meaning "within". So, "look within". See how easy that was?

If you are interested in more word study, you can read this site's brief write-ups on:

• root words - what are they really?
• prefixes and suffixes - fancy words, but what do they do?
• syllables - how do they bridge written and spoken words?
• etymology - people actually study where our words come from?
• making new words - where do they get those wacky product names?

spellingbee
A Dictionary of Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms
from Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
2002

-tic- (W3)

virtualsalt.com
How Words Work

...
Many words are made up of a root (or base word) and a prefix. Some words also have a suffix. For example, the root word "port" means to "carry" or to "bear". Attach the prefix "ex", meaning "out" or "out of", and you have the word "export", to "carry out". Attach the prefix "im", meaning "in" or "into" and you have "import", to "carry in". Attach the prefix "trans", meaning "across", and you have "transport", meaning to "carry across". Now let's attach the suffix "able", meaning "able to be", and you have "importable", "exportable", and "transportable".

The very words "prefix" and "suffix" are good examples, too. "Pre" means "before" and "fix" means to "fasten" or "attach", so quite literally, a "prefix" is "something attached to the beginning of something else". "Suf" is a variant of "sub", "below" or "under", so a "suffix" is "something fastened underneath something else" (in this case, behind the root).

By learning the common roots and prefixes (and a few suffixes) you will be able to discern the meaning of many new words almost immediately. (But do look them up for confirmation.) Take the word "abject", for example. If you know that "ab" means "away" or "down" and "ject" means to "throw", you can easily figure out that "abject" doesn't mean something happy. Rather "abject"'s root meaning of "thrown down" is quite close to the dictionary defintion of "cast down in spirit" or "sunk into depression".

Note that some modern words are formed by using abbreviated forms of other words. Thus, we see the use of the letter "i" for "Internet" in "iPhone", "iPod", and "iTunes", indicating that these items or services work with the Internet. Similarly, the use of "e" for "electronic" appears in words such as "elearning" (and various forms: "eLearning", "E-Learning", and so on), "e-commerce", and "e-business". The "e-terms" seem to have been coined before the "i-terms" became popular. And note that most of the "i-terms" are trademarks, while the others are general descriptors: "I'm going to download some iTunes from Apple's e-commerce site because I love e-music." At any rate, these abbreviated forms are not traditional prefixes, but because they are indeed attached to the front of what amounts to root words, they could be considered functional prefixes.
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Miller, D. Gary (Autor)
Latin Suffixal Derivatives in English
And Their Indo-European Ancestry

Kurzbeschreibung
This is the fullest account ever published of Latin suffixes in English. It explores the rich variety of English words formed by the addition of one or more Latin suffixes, such as "-ial", "-able", "-ability", "-ible", and "-id". It traces the histories of over 3,000 words, revealing the range of derivational patterns in Indo-European, Latin, and English. It describes the different kinds of suffix, shows how they entered English via different channels at different times, and considers the complexity of competition between native and borrowed forms. The author examines postclassical, medieval, and early modern Latin derivations, and demonstrates that Latin is still, and likely to remain, a productive source of English words. He traces the suffixes back to their Proto-Indo-European origins and provides copious examples for every aspect of his discussion. Professor Miller's innovative book makes an important contribution to the history of both English and Latin morphology and etymology, as well as to the history of suffixal derivation in Indo-European. It will interest scholars and students of comparative morphology, historical and comparative linguistics, etymology, and lexicography

Quinion, Michael
Ologies and Isms
A Dictionary of Word Beginnings and Endings

Over 10,000 examples of word affixes to help you to decode word meanings.

This book covers topics such as Aquaculture, Haemophilia, Isochronous, Neuralgia, Polyunsaturated, and Rodenticide. How often do we see a technical word without quite knowing what it means? If we can decipher it - undo its language code - we can start to understand others of a similar kind. For example, if we know that words beginning with "aqua" are to do with "water", then we are half way to understanding the word "aquaculture". "Ologies and Isms" is about the building blocks of the English language - the beginnings and endings and sometimes the middles - that help form or adapt many of the words we use.

Whether you're a student or a practitioner, a teacher of English, an inveterate word-user, or just a seeker-out of linguistic trifles, the book should help you understand better the language of your workplace and the world around you. The text contains over 10,000 examples within 1250 entries and a selective thematic index breaks prefixes and suffixes down by theme, including biochemistry and drugs, living world, places and people.

We all have a childlike love of playing with words, adding bits, Lego-style, to create new ones. And we often wonder where words come from and how they are formed.

This book fills a gap we hardly knew existed. Ologies and Isms is about the building blocks of the English language—the beginnings and endings, sometimes the middles—that help create many of the words we use. How often do we see a common technical or medical word without quite knowing what it means? Does your blood run cold when you hear haemophilia; do you pale at paleobotany? If we can decipher such words, we can start to understand others of a similar kind.

Ologies And Isms A Dictionary Of Word Beginnings And Endings (Oxford Paperback Reference)

by Michael Quinion

ISBN 13: 9780192801234

ISBN 10: 0192801236

Paperback; Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA, April 3, 2003; ISBN-13: 978-0192801234

Ologies and Isms: A Dictionary of Word Beginnings and Endings

by Michael Quinion

The codebook has arrived!

Some of the most common--and often misinterpreted--parts of English language construction are prefixes and suffixes. Ologies and Isms unlocks the meaning of these building blocks that make up so much of our modern medical and technical vocabulary. In accessible, plain language this book explains what each affix means. With its huge store of examples--over 10,000 across 1,250 entries--this ready reference illustrates the numerous ways that each is used in everyday speech and writing.

Organized in a handy A to Z format, the book features a full Introduction, a section with definitions of technical terms, and a selective thematic index. Anyone (and there are quite a few of us) who has puzzled over 'antidisestablishmentarianism' or struggled with 'histopathologist' will welcome this volume for the relief it provides.

Sheehan, Michael
Word Parts Dictionary
Standard and Reverse Listings of Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms

Urdang, Laurence
Suffixes and Other Word-Final Elements of English

Synopsis
Origins, history, meanings and applications of over 1500 common and technical free forms, bound forms, and roots that frequently occur at the ends of words, with an index in normal alphabetical order.