-'s

Equivalent to -s, with addition of apostrophe.

There are four 3’s in my phone number.

“Banana” has three a’s and one b. (apostrophe "s" used so that the plural of “a” is not confused with the word “as”)

You can buy CD’s in that shop.

These are the do’s and don’ts. (apostrophe "s" used as “dos” may be misread)

10’s; 100’s; A+’s; A.U.’s; don’t’s; s’s

(sometimes proscribed) Used to form the plurals of numerals, letters, some abbreviations and some nouns, usually because the omission of an apostrophe would make the meaning unclear or ambiguous.

index’s

(obsolete) Used to form plurals of foreign words, to clarify pronunciation, such as “banana’s” or “pasta’s”.

Apple’s 50p a pound

greengrocer’s apostrophe
greengrocer's apostrophe

(proscribed) Used to form the plural of nouns that correctly take just an "s" in the plural. See greengrocer’s apostrophe.


-mancer

From necromancer; equivalent to -mancy + -er.

A practitioner of a specific type of divination.


-mancer

I’ve always thought it was a shame us Cullenmancers missed out on a romance tarot with how beautiful all their designs are.

As a Solasmancer I don't expect more, but I'd hope somehow Solas' experience with the Inquisition has an impact on him going forward.

I agreed with some and disagreed with others, so I'm putting it out there for my fellow Galemancers: what's Gale's [zodiac] sign?

2023 December 22, Theia-Euryphaessa, Reddit:

(fandom slang) A suffix attached to a video game character's name to create a word for a player who romances that character in the game.


-adelic

(slang) A suffix used to create adjectives imparting a specific form of coolness, verve, or trippiness.


-dar

(usually humorous) Forming nouns denoting a putative ability to detect a thing.


-valent

trivalent ions


-iatric

From Ancient Greek ἰᾱτρικός (iātrikós, “medical”), from ἰατρός (iatrós, “doctor”) + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic”).

suffix

Pertaining to a particular branch of medicine.


-iatrics

From Ancient Greek ἰατρός (iatrós, “doctor”) + -ics.

Forms a noun meaning a specialty medical field of practice.


-iatry

From Ancient Greek ἰατρεία (iatreía, “healing, medical treatment”), from ἰατρός (iatrós, “doctor”).

bor

Forms names of specialized fields of medical practice.

-iatrie

(forms names of specialized fields of medical practice)


-ics

From -ic (“related or pertaining to”), with usage in the plural in imitation of the Latin and Greek usage.

Forms nouns referring to fields of knowledge or practice.


-scape

Back-formation from landscape, the suffix representing Middle Dutch -schap (“the English suffix -ship, e.g. of friendship, kinship, ownership”), from Old Dutch -skap (“-ship”), from Proto-Germanic *-skapiz (“-ship”), from *skapaz (“shape, form”). Cognate with Modern Dutch -schap (“-ship”), German -schaft (“-ship”), Swedish -skap (“-ship”), Old English -sceap, -scipe (“-ship”). More at -ship, shape.


-tort

From Old French tort, from Latin tortum, substantive use of the past participle of torqueō (“twist, turn”). Compare with torsion, torture.


-and

From Middle English -and, -end, -ant, -nd, from Old English -ende, -ande, present participle ending of verbs, and -end, -nd, agent ending, both from Proto-West Germanic *-andī, from Proto-Germanic *-andz (present participle suffix), from Proto-Indo-European *-onts. More at -ing.

inh

livand, nurischand, ravand, snipand, goand

(now chiefly dialectal, Scotland) Used to form the present participle of verbs, equivalent to -ing.

waniand, blatant, blicant, farrand, flippant, gainand, rampant, trippant, warkand

(rare or no longer productive) A suffix of Anglo-Saxon origin forming adjectives from verbs analogous to -ing.


-and

From Latin gerundive termination -andus, -endus. More at -end.

A suffix forming nouns denoting patients (i.e., recipients of actions), such as compiland.


-end

From Latin -endus, a gerundive ending, related to -andus.

addend, subtrahend, dividend

Forming nouns denoting patients or recipients of actions.


-mony

Learned borrowing from Latin -mōnium, -mōnia.

Deadjectival suffix used to form an abstract noun usually from personal adjectives.

Denominal and deverbal suffix used to form a noun designating a legal status, estate, property.


-a-palooza

From lallapalootza, lalapalooza, by analogy to Lollapalooza, a music festival.

Honey Raye: Honey Raye Futrelle and Company proudly present ... Bethlehem-A-Palooza!

2007, Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten, Christmas Belles, Dramatists Play Service, →ISBN, page 10:

September 16, 1995: The high-profile, high-rated Nickelodeon cable service runs Puf-a-Palooza, a 15-hour marathon of vintage Sid and Marty Krofft productions.

1998, Hal Erickson, Sid and Marty Krofft: A Critical Study of Saturday Morning Children’s Television, 1969–1993, McFarland, →ISBN:

The dealership is located in Motorati Island, a 96-acre plot which General Motors plans to give away, plot by plot, in land grants to Second Life Residents keen to practise their automotive-building skills. This scheme they have christened Land-a-Palooza.

2007, Paul Carr, Graham Pond, The Unofficial Tourists' Guide to Second Life, Macmillan,, →ISBN, page 131:

Forms the name of a promotional event such as a presentation

“Halloween quiet?” Xander shot her a quizzical look. “I figured it would be a big old vamp scare-a-palooza.”

2002, Richie Tankersley, The Angel Chronicles, Simon and Schuster,, →ISBN, page 17:

The room erupted into cheers. The staff meeting that day was a “laugh-a-palooza,” recalled a Bush aide.

2004, Evan Thoman, Election 2004: How Bush Won and What You Can Expect in the Future, →ISBN, page 68:

This area is spring-a-palooza, but so far none of the springs we’ve explored has met Nash’s criteria.

2007, Catherine Mulvany, Something Wicked, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 102:

Emphasizes or exaggerates the element of a situation

-palooza

used when added to a word that already ends in a vowel


-lings

From Middle English -linges, variant (with genitive -es) of Middle English -ling (adverbial suffix), equivalent to -ling + -s. Compare Dutch -lings (adverbial suffix), German -lings.

(now UK dialectal) forming adverbs, generally of condition or situation


-ies

country, countries; party, parties.

Variant of -es for the plural forms of nouns ending in a consonant + y; equivalent to (dropped y) + (-i- + -es).

objectify, objectifies; parry, parries.

third person singular
third person singular#English

Used to form the third person singular in the present indicative of verbs ending in a consonant + y.


-ridden

crime + -ridden → crime-ridden

bug + -ridden → bug-ridden

Figuratively construed as “repeatedly/perennially affected by” or “unable to escape from”.


-ula

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -ulus
Latin -ulabor.
English -ula
Borrowed from Latin -ula. Doublet of -ule.

etymon

marimba + -ula → marimbula

ameba + -ula → amebula


-something

He lives at 2-something fifty-something street, and he looks like he's thirty-something.

Indicating approximation, as in a range of numbers.


-izzle

Popularized by rap artist Snoop Dogg, but first put to record by Frankie Smith's 1981 "Double Dutch Bus" is from a style of cant (esoteric slang) used by African American pimps and jive hustlers of the 1970s. The “-iz, -izzle, -izzo, -ilz” speak (which also uses an infix -iz-), similar in some ways to Pig Latin, was developed by African Americans around the period of the Harlem Renaissance, with hotspots of the speak in Oakland, New York City, and Philadelphia. It was partially developed as young African American girls improvised chants and nursery rhymes while jumping rope, with the -iz dialect serving to add syllables when necessary to maintain the rhythm. A similar -iz dialect has also been used by carnies (carnival workers).

My nizzle, you gon' get hizzle
 Relax by the kizzle
 An' go get us a couple hizzles

2001, Cypress Hill, Here is Something You Can't Understand:

A bewigged British judge ruled on Thursday that the lyrics of a rap record urging the listener to “shizzle my nizzle” and referring to a “mish mish man” did not constitute an offense.

2004, Hollywood Reporter, British judge: nizzle-shizzling not an offense:

Snoop Dogg has always had a refreshing take on British culture. When he met Rod Hull and Emu on The Word, for instance, he took exception to the overindulged bird’s lunge at his genitals (or “lizzle at his gizzle”, to use Snoop’s parlance). After a short struggle, the rapper’s foot rested on the bird-handler’s neck. If only Parky had been so proactive.

2005 February 15, “Shortcuts”, in The Guardian:

Hand me my chisel, I got a new commandizzle, for y'all.

2012, EpicLLOYD, Nice Peter, Snoop Dogg (lyrics and music), “Moses vs Snoop Dog”, in Epic Rap Battles of History (Season 2):

(slang) Forms hip-hop-sounding words, which replaces the word with the first sound of the word followed by -izzle.


-oic

(organic chemistry) used to form the names of carboxylic groups and acids


-borough

From borough, from Old English burh (“fortified place”).

Placename suffix, indicated site of a fortified place.


-bury

From Old English byriġ, the dative case of burg (“fortified place”) (whence borough); doublet of -borough and -burg.
Due to the collapse of the case system between Old and Middle English, many placenames retain a fossilized dative form, as places would most commonly have been invoked in the dative (after a preposition in, at, to etc.).

Some of these hilltops – Sidbury, Quarley, Danebury and Woolbury – were later, in the sixth and fifth centuries, appropriated for the building of hillforts.

1983, Barry Cunliffe, chapter 3, in Danebury Hillfort, Stroud: Tempus:

A placename suffix indicating a fortified place.


-burgh

From Old English burh (“fortified place”). Doublet of -borough and -bury.

Place name suffix, indicating the site of a fortified place.


-stock

From Woodstock, a famous American festival.

From a 25-foot-high platform on the shores of Lake Ontario reminiscent of a rock concert stage, John Paul delivered his prescription for a fulfilling life to the Catholic Church's next generation during the three-hour opening ceremony of World Youth Day, also dubbed "Popestock."

2002, San Francisco Chronicle -, Pope musters energy to rally church's next generation:

Cheesestock: Camping event for people who love cheese. Must bring a cheese dish or item. March 6

2004, Las Vegas Mercury -, A/E: Entertainment calendar (cont.):

2004, The Daily Collegian (Penn State) - Filmstock festival an indie darling

Forming the names of theme-based festivals or concerts.


-yne

Contracted from the suffix -ylene of acetylene

(organic chemistry) An unsaturated hydrocarbon having at least one triple bond; an alkyne.


-zilla

(humorous, informal, augmentative) Forms nouns and names suggesting a monster or a thing of extremely large size or great destructiveness, or other characteristics of the fictional Godzilla.


-mo

From Latin ending and apparent suffix of cardinal numbers.

(paper, printing) Used to form page and book sizes.


-centesis

From Ancient Greek κέντησις (kéntēsis, “the act of pricking”), from κεντέω (kentéō, “I prick”).

bor

The doctor performed a pericardiocentesis to remove the excess fluid from around the patient’s heart.


-ville

Borrowed from French ville (“town, city”).

Used to form a name of an inhabited place, a town or city.

What do you reckon? Far outsville or far insville?

1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 18:

(figurative) Used with an adjective as a mildly intensifying locative, indicating a region or state of that kind.


-kind

From Middle English -kinde, -kunde, -kuinde, alteration (due to the noun kind (“type, class”)) of -kin, -kun, -cun, from Old English -cynn (“of or belonging to a specified race or family”), from cynn (“family, race”), see kin. Most uses appear to have been formed by analogy with mankind.

inh

Used to form nouns denoting groups or classes taken collectively from animate nouns


-sphere

n-sphere

(mathematics) Sphere of a certain dimensionality.

sarcosphere; chromosphere

biosphere; hydrosphere

Global system or layer of the Earth or another planet.

blogosphere; wingnutosphere; Anglosphere

(figuratively) Particular realm or interest of a group of people, object, etc.; its spatial or virtual sphere of influence.


-stomy

A surgical procedure forming a hole for access, nutrition, or waste elimination.


-ola

From Latin -ola, -ula, feminine form of -ulus, -lus (diminutive suffix).

Used to form the names of several commercial companies and products.

(entertainment industry) Used to form pejorative terms associated with commercial bribery.

Used to form humorous and pejorative words.


-ola

Used to form words relating to oil or oiliness


-eme

Extracted from phoneme, from Ancient Greek φώνημα (phṓnēma, “sound”), from φωνέω (phōnéō, “to sound”), from φωνή (phōnḗ, “sound”).

phone + -eme → phoneme

metaphor + -eme → metaphoreme

prosody + -eme → prosodeme

Indicating a fundamental unit in some kind of structure, chiefly linguistic structure.


-d

bone → boned, pirouette → pirouetted, learn → learnd

Alternative form of -ed now only standard with words which end in -e, but historically permissable in all the same places as -ed.

damn → damnd (→ damnded), drown → drownd (→ drownded)

An empty suffix, perhaps derived from the past-tense suffix above, added in some dialects to the present tense forms of some words which then add an additional -ed in the past tense.

2d grade; 23d century

Marks ordinals written in digits when the final term of the spelled number is "second" or "third"


-more

From Middle English -more, -mor, from mor (“more”, adverb). Analogically formed to -most.

(archaic) Used to form a comparative of certain adjectives and adverbs, usually ending in -er.


-teen

From Middle English -tene, from Anglian Old English -tēne (compare West Saxon -tīene), from an inflected form of Proto-West Germanic *tehun, from Proto-Germanic *tehun (“ten”).

Used to form cardinal numbers from thirteen to nineteen.

-decim

used for 11 to 17, and occasionally up to 19


-ty

From Middle English -ty, from Old English -tiġ (“-ty”), from Proto-Germanic *tigiwiz, plural of *teguz (“group of ten”), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ-, *déḱm̥ (“ten”). Cognate with Scots -ty (“-ty”), West Frisian -tich (“-ty”), Dutch -tig (“-ty”), German -zig (“-ty”), Gothic 𐍄𐌹𐌲𐌿𐍃 (tigus, “group of ten, decade”). Related to ten.

cog

Nonproductive suffix indicating single-digit integer multiples of ten


-ty

From Middle English -te, from Old French -te, from Latin -tās, -tātem.

subtle + -ty → subtlety

Alternative form of -ity, used to form abstract nouns from adjectives


-tron

From Ancient Greek -τρον (-tron), a suffix denoting an instrument, as in Ancient Greek ἄροτρον (árotron, “plow”). cyclotron in particular has served as a motivation for use in high-technology terms.

Used to name various electronic and neutronic devices.

subatomic particle
subatomic particle#English

Used to name a number of subatomic particles.

particle accelerator
particle accelerator#English

Used to name a number of particle accelerators.

machine learning
machine learning#English

Used to name a number of machine learning algorithms.


-'er

4-H'er, 49'er

Variant form of -er used in words ending with an abbreviation or (sometimes) a number.

Li’er said hello to his father.

Variant form of -er (“in Chinese literature: junior”) using the apostrophe which marks syllable boundaries in pinyin.


-lept

(palynology) Having pollen grains with one or more leptomata, thin edges near the pole


-treme

From New Latin trema (“aperture”), from Ancient Greek τρῆμα (trêma), from Proto-Hellenic *trḗmə (“hole”), from Proto-Indo-European *tréh₁-mn̥ (“to drill”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to drill”).

der

Having a trema (hole or aperture) or tremata of the type, position or number specified by the prefix


-elect

Senator-elect Li will be sworn in next month.

Used after a title to indicate that the person has been elected to hold the title, but has not yet officially taken it.


-gasm

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame--gasm.wav

Back-formation from orgasm (“climax or peak of sexual pleasure”).

back-form

nipple + -gasm → nipplegasm

(informal) Forms nouns for a method of orgasm.

ear + -gasm → eargasm

(informal, figuratively) Forms nouns for an intensely "explosive" or pleasurable experience.


-sophy

From Ancient Greek σοφία (sophía, “knowledge, wisdom”).


-anth

From Ancient Greek ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”).


-yl

Via French méthylène from Ancient Greek ὕλη (húlē, “wood, material”).

(organic chemistry) A univalent radical or functional group formed from a given molecule. Thus propyl from propane, benzyl from benzene, and so forth.


-itol

From reanalysis of the ending of mannitol, sorbitol and so on, from -ite (an old, non-specific use of this suffix) + -ol.

polyhydric alcohol
polyhydric alcohol#English

(organic chemistry) Forming the names of polyhydric alcohols (sugar alcohols).

-it

forming the names of polyhydric alcohols


-rrhea

From Ancient Greek ῥοία (rhoía, “flow, flux”).

bor

-rrhagia

emphasizes heavy flow, often of blood specifically


-mane

Borrowed from French -mane, from Ancient Greek -μανής (-manḗs).

Forming compound nouns with the sense of person who has a mania for.


-se

From Middle English -sen (verbal ending), from Old English -sian (verbal ending), from Proto-Germanic *-isōną.

Creates denominatives from adjective or nouns.

When attached to certain adjectives, it forms a transitive verb whose meaning is, to make (adjective). The same construction could also be done to certain (fewer) nouns, as, bless, in which case the verb means roughly, to make bloody/sanctify.


-plasia

From New Latin -plasia, from Ancient Greek πλάσις (plásis, “molding, formation”).


-k

From Middle English -ken, -kien, from Old English -cian, from Proto-West Germanic *-ukōn, *-ikōn, from Proto-Germanic *-ukōną, *-ikōną. Cognate with West Frisian -kje, German -chen, Danish -ke, Swedish -ka, Faroese -ka. Perhaps related to Old English diminutive suffix -uc, -oc. More at -ock.

tale, talk; steal, stalk; mire, mirk; hear, hark; fare, firk; peer, perk; yare, yark; gaw, gawk

(rare, no longer productive) A suffix found in verbs of Middle English, Old English, usually with an intensive or frequentative effect.


-k

From Middle English -ke, from Old English -(u)c and -ca (diminutive suffix). More at -ock.

chine > chink; stale > stalk

(rare, no longer productive) A suffix found in nouns, usually with a diminutive effect.


-emia

From the New Latin combining form of Ancient Greek αἷμᾰ (haîmă), αἵμᾰτος (haímătos, “blood”).

(chiefly Canada, US) Alternative spelling of -aemia


-fest

From fest, from German Fest (“festival”).

summer + -fest → Summerfest

Yule + -fest → Yulefest

A festival, a fest; used in names of events.

snooze + -fest → snoozefest

slug + -fest → slugfest

action + -fest → actionfest

joke + -fest → jokefest

(informal) Appended to a noun to denote a thing, especially an event or artistic work, characterized by the noun's referent.


-xor

He's a real haxor, man.

(Internet slang) used in respelling words ending in -cker or -ker


-penia

From Ancient Greek πενίᾱ (peníā, “poverty, lack”).


-style

From Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “pillar, column”), or -στῦλος (-stûlos, “columned”).

ortho- + -style → orthostyle


-micin

Blend of translingual Micromonospora + -mycin.

blend

(pharmacology) Used to form names of aminoglycosides, antibiotics obtained from various Micromonospora.


-mycin

(pharmacology) Used to form names of antibiotics produced by Streptomyces strains.

-micin

antibiotics obtained from Micromonospora


-mycin

From Ancient Greek μύκης (múkēs, “fungus”).

(pharmacology) Used to form names of antibiotics that pertain to fungi


-enyl

(organic chemistry) suffix for alkenyl functional groups


-crasy

Ultimately from Ancient Greek κρᾶσις (krâsis, “mixing, tempering”), often via Latin -crāsia and, additionally, Old French -crasie.


-ial

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -ālis after radical in -ius, -ia, -ium.


-wad

Numerous wad factions, including the dickwad, dipwad, jerkwad and fuckwad groups, refused to participate in the wad accord.

1999 February 10, “Gaywads, Dorkwads Sign Historic Wad Accord”, in The Onion:

(slang) Added to a variety of vulgar terms and insults for an obnoxious person to create new insults.


-latry

From Late Latin latria, from Ancient Greek λατρεία (latreía, “service; worship”).

-latria

forms a noun meaning worship of stemmed noun


-imundo

Derived from nonsense Italian- and Spanish-sounding words.

That film was crapimundo.

(slang) nonsense suffix added to adjectives to give emphasis.


-uria

From international scientific vocabulary, reflecting a New Latin combining form, Latin -ūria, from Ancient Greek -ουρία (-ouría), from οὖρον (oûron, “urine”).

(pathology) urine; urination; presence in urine (of a substance denoted by a prefixed combining form); state or condition of the urine.

classical compound
international scientific vocabulary

-aemia

blood; presence in blood; state or condition of blood


-nap

Apparently a back-formation from kidnap (see libfix); ultimately from nap.

Forming verbs with the sense of "abduct", or sometimes "abscond with".


-long

Forms adjectives indicating duration when suffixed to nouns of duration


-ern

In form, from Middle English -erne, -ern, -ren, -ron (northern(e), northron, so(u)thern(e), sothron, etc), from Old English -erne (norþerne, etc), from Proto-Germanic *-r- (probably from rebracketing of *nurþrōnijaz etc) + *-ōnijaz, whence also Old High German -rōni, Old Saxon -rōni, Old Norse -rǿnn / Old Norse -ǿnn. In practice, possibly a back-formation from northern, southern, etc.
(Contrast the -ern in hāliġern, etc., which is related to ærn (“place”).)

(nonstandard outside fossilized words) Added to the names of directions to form adjectives.


-red

From Middle English -rede, -red, -redde, -reden, from Old English -rǣden (which see). Cognate with German -rat (as in Heirat (“wedding”)).

hatred

kindred

manred

sibred

(no longer productive) A suffix forming nouns of condition or state.


-lalia

From Ancient Greek λαλιά (laliá, “talk, chat”).

bor

Forming nouns denoting abnormal or disordered forms of speech.


-ole

Arbitrary variant of -ol, now used to distinguish between specific cases.

Hantzsch–Widman nomenclature
w:Hantzsch–Widman nomenclature

(organic chemistry) in the Hantzsch–Widman nomenclature for naming heterocycles, denotes an unsaturated five-membered ring system with nitrogen

azole

triazole, tetrazole, pentazole; oxazole, thiazole; isoxazole, isothiazole


-ole

A diminutive suffix referring to small parts of organisms or their cells.


-ex

Imitative of the ending of Latin-derived words such as index and codex

Used to construct company and product names that borrow meaning from the root word.


-core

Back-formation from hardcore (“hardcore punk; a particularly fast and intense form of punk rock”).

back-form

gloom + -core → gloomcore

metal + -core → metalcore

rap + -core → rapcore

speed + -core → speedcore

(music) Denoting a genre of music, especially one influenced by hardcore music.

maso(chist) + -core → masocore (“a genre of games where survival and winning are intentionally made extremely difficult”)

mumble + -core → mumblecore (“an American independent film movement or subgenre, characterised by low-budget production, etc.”)

nerd + -core → nerdcore (“the most dedicated nerds”)

homo + -core → homocore (“an artistic and musical movement dealing with issues of sexual and gender prejudice”)

(by extension) Denoting a genre, movement, subculture, or group.

cottage + -core → cottagecore

grandma + -core → grandmacore

norm + -core → normcore

trauma + -core → traumacore

(chiefly Internet slang) Denoting an aesthetic or vibe.


-trophic

From Ancient Greek τροφικός (trophikós, “pertaining to food or nourishment”), from τροφή (trophḗ, “food”).

der

Used to form adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -trophy

-trophe

used to form adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -trophy


-holism

From alcoholism, one of the first addictions to be widely identified both medically and socially. It should be noted that the word alcoholism is broken up into the root, alcohol, and the suffix -ism, not alco and -holism. The suffix -holism is thus a result of false splitting.

A form of addiction, either a physical or obsessive dependency.


-ency

transparency

Forming abstract nouns denoting conditions, qualities, or states.


-oate

(organic chemistry) Used to form the names of salts and esters of carboxylic acids e.g. benzoate, hexanoate


-mab

From MAb, acronym of m(onoclonal) a(nti)b(ody).


-tinib

(pharmacology) Abbreviation of t(yrosine) (k)in(ase) (inh)ib(itor).


-ximab

From -xi- (alteration of chimeric) + -mab (“monoclonal antibody”), with the x reflecting both the Greek etymology and the idea of crossed/mixed cell lines.

af

alteration of <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">chimeric</i>

monoclonal antibodies
monoclonal antibody#English

(pharmacology) Used to form names of chimeric monoclonal antibodies, derived from both human and murine sources.

-mab is the base suffix common to all monoclonal antibodies


-cratic

From Middle French -cratique, and its source, Latin -craticus, from Ancient Greek -κρατικός (-kratikós), from -κρατία (-kratía, “-cracy”), from κράτος (krátos, “strength, might, rule, authority”). Equivalent to -crat + -ic or -cracy + -ic.

-kraties

suffix forming adjectives related to -cracy/-crat

democratic

used to form adjectives, of or befitting -cracy

aristocrat

used to form adjectives, of or befitting -crat


-cardia

Formed on Ancient Greek κᾰρδῐ́ᾱ (kărdĭ́ā, “heart”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, suffix forming abstract nouns), equivalent to cardia + -ia.


-zygous

(biology) Having or originating from a specified state as a result of conditions in the zygote stage of development.

(genetics) Having a specified state of allele pairs in the nucleus.

(anatomy) Having a specified state of physical pairing of structures.


-algy

From New Latin -algia, from Ancient Greek ἄλγος (álgos, “pain”).


-angle

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame--angle.wav

(geometry, of a two-dimensional shape) having the specified number of internal angles


-angular

angular, having (specified kind or number of) angles


-anthropy

From Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “human”).


-xeny

From Ancient Greek ξενία (xenía), from ξένος (xénos, “foreign, strange; foreigner, stranger, guest”).


-therm

From Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós, “warm”).

(biology) used to name types of animal having a specified form of body temperature mechanism

geotherm


-icam

(pharmacology) Used to form names of isoxicam derivatives used as anti-inflammatory agents.


-choron

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame--choron.wav

From Ancient Greek χῶρος (khôros, “room”).

(geometry) Used to form the names of 4-dimensional solids bounded by a certain number of cells/polyhedra (polychora).


-cule

(diminutive) Used to form diminutive nouns.


-etic

Ultimately from Ancient Greek -ητικός (-ētikós).

Used to form adjectives, meaning "pertaining to", derived from nouns, most of which end in -esis


-tomy

From Ancient Greek τέμνω (témnō, “I cut”).

Cutting, incision, section
(anatomy) A division.

Cutting, incision, section
(surgery) A surgical incision.

Cutting, incision, section
A surgical incision.


-partite

(forming adjectives) Having the specified number of parts.


-genin

From -gen + -in, i.e. a compound (-in) formed from another compound (-gen).

saponin (a class of steroid glycosides) > sapogenin (the aglycone portions of saponins)

(chemistry) Used to form words for the aglycone (non-saccharide) residues of steroidal glycosides.


-omics

From -ome (“whole of class”) + -ics, both via international scientific vocabulary and New Latin ultimately from Ancient Greek.

Life sciences usage
gene + -omics → genomics
protein + -omics → proteomics
metabolism + -omics → metabolomics
glyco- + -omics → glycomics

Lesser popular usage
food + -omics → foodomics
culture + -omics → culturomics
token + -omics → tokenomics

(chiefly biology) Forms nouns meaning “a study of the totality of something”.


-woman

→ French: -woman

From Middle English -woman, from the noun woman.

horsewoman, sportswoman

committeewoman, newswoman, policewoman

A woman who is employed or holds a position in an area.

bogeywoman, superwoman

A woman who has special characteristics relating to a topic or area.

Scotswoman, Norsewoman


-path

From Ancient Greek πάθος (páthos, “suffering”).

bor

sociopath

Used to form nouns indicating someone with a particular disorder

-pata

used to form nouns indicating someone with a particular disorder

osteopath

Used to form nouns indicating someone with a particular capability, as a type of remedial treatment

-pata

used to form nouns indicating someone with a particular capability, as a type of remedial treatment


-thermic

Mid 19th century, from Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós, “heat”) + -ic.


-loquy

Extracted from Latin compounds such as soliloquium, vaniloquium.


-ple

(as a noun) A tuple containing the specified number of terms.

[…]where the integral is n'''-ple, dx standing in for dx₁dx₂....dxₙ.

1934, A. C. Aitken, “Note on Selection from a Multivariate Normal Population”, in Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society 4, page 108:

(as an adjective) Containing the specified number of terms.


-ple

Constantinopolis → Constantinople

Adrianopolis → Adrianople

(non-productive) Alternative form of -polis used in transcriptions of medieval Greek city names.


-mer

From Ancient Greek μέρος (méros, “part”).

(chemistry) Used to form words relating to chemical structure, denoting parts of a molecule, for example, monomer (one part), dimer (two parts), polymer (many parts).


-esce

From Latin -ēscō (“to grow, become a certain way”, an inchoative suffix). Compare -ish (Etymology 2).

Used to form verbs from nouns, following the pattern of verbs derived from Latin verbs ending in -esco


-ylidene

citrylidene

(organic chemistry) Bivalent radical derived especially from a saturated hydrocarbon by removal of two hydrogen atoms from the same carbon atom or the removal of the oxygen atom of an aldehyde.


-iot

Back-formation of Cypriot, from Ancient Greek Κυπριώτης (Kupriṓtēs, “Cypriot”).

der

Of or relating to an island or peninsula in Greece or the Hellenic sphere.


-phoresis

Borrowed from Ancient Greek φόρησῐς (phórēsĭs, “an act of bearing, wearing”), from φορέω (phoréō, “to bear repeatedly or habitually; to be carried along”) + -σῐς (-sĭs, action noun suffix).


-tropia

(sciences, medicine) turning, movement; identical in origin to -tropy but more commonly associated with medicine, especially eye conditions.


-ocracy

From -o- (interconsonantal interfix) + -cracy.

affix

Alternative form of -cracy used following a consonant.


-ergy

From Ancient Greek -εργία (-ergía), from ἔργον (érgon, “work”).

synergy


-lock

From Middle English -lok, -lak, -lac, from Old English -lāc (suffix denoting activity or action), from Proto-Germanic *laiką (“play, sport, fight, activity”), *laikaz (“game, dance, hymn, sport”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyg- (“to bounce, shake, tremble”).
The etymology of the suffix is the same as that of the noun lāc "play, sport", also "sacrifice, offering", corresponding to obsolete Modern English lake (dialectal laik) "sport, fun, glee, game", cognate to Gothic laiks "dance", Old Norse leikr "game, sport" and Old High German leih "play, song, melody" (> Old French lai "song, lyric, poem, lay"), obsolete or dialectal German Leich. Old English līcian ("to please", Modern English like) is from the same root. In modern English, the noun has been reintroduced through the cognate Swedish lek as a specialist term referring to mating behaviour.

der

(no longer productive) Action or proceeding, practice, ritual


-oi

From the Ancient Greek -οι (-oi), the second-declension masculine nominative plural case ending — the plural form of -ος (-os); compare the equivalents of the Latin second declension (-us → -ī), with which the Grecian case endings are usually substituted in English words, especially in the plural.


-ual

A back-formation from Latin adjectives ending in -uālis, which are formed from fourth-declension nouns suffixed with -ālis


-clast

From Ancient Greek κλαστός (klastós, “broken”), verbal adjective of κλάω (kláō, “to break”).


-ae

confusion with -i or imitation of Classical Latin


-ylene

(organic chemistry) used to form the names of bivalent radicals


-ality

Equivalent to the French -alité and the Latin -ālitās.


-statin

Used to form the names of inhibiting hormones. e.g. somatostatin


-soft

ViewStore is a general purpose data base management system for Acorn microcomputers. It is supplied by Acornsoft and it is compatible with the word processing package View, the spreadsheet package ViewSheet and the rest of the View range.

1989, David J. Maguire, Computers in geography:

Catsoft Assets is a complete PC-based fixed asset management system designed specifically for use by the accountancy profession.

1995, Charter, volume 66, numbers 1-5, page 34:

After getting no response from the Mirrorsoft people, I got angry and called London to get the number for Maxwell Communications.

1998, Chris Andrews, The education of a CD-ROM publisher:

Even in a painstakingly designed application like Microsoft Word, automatic features for capitalizing text and applying formatting often confound users of all levels.

2005, Matthew MacDonald, Pro .NET 2.0 Windows Forms and custom controls in C#:

For six years Thomas exploited the prize and his fame, using the jewel as collateral to found the video game company Haresoft and its 1985 two-part release, Hareraiser, a puzzle game featuring the Masquerade hare as the prize.

2015, Geoff Hamilton, Brian Jones, Encyclopedia of American Popular Fiction:


-ean

From Latin -ānus, following Latin stems ending in -e(us), -ē(us) (many from Ancient Greek -ηιος), or -æ(us) (many from -αιος).

Forms adjectives, usually from proper nouns.


-phonic

Formed in English of -phone + -ic, from Ancient Greek -φωνος (-phōnos), combining form of φωνή (phōnḗ, “sound”). Attested from the 19th century.


-iform

Alternative form of -form (with interfix -i-)


-craft

From Middle English -craft, -creft, from Old English -cræft (“art or skill in”), from cræft (“art, skill”). More at craft.

statecraft

stagecraft


-craft

aircraft

hovercraft


-iasis

A Latin word-forming element meaning "process" or "morbid condition". Originally from Ancient Greek ἴασις (íasis).

(pathology) A pathological condition or process.


-eh

kitteh (for kitty)

sunneh (for sunny)

(humorous, Internet slang) Used to replace -y, often in lolcat speak.


-meal

From Middle English -mele, from Old English -mǣlum (“at times”), from Proto-Germanic *mēlamiz, instrumental case of Proto-Germanic *mēlą (“measure; time”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian -moal, Dutch -maal, German Low German -maal, German -mal. More at meal.

wordmeal (“one word at a time, word by word”)

(rare or no longer productive) Used to denote a fixed number, measure, or amount at a time.


-meal

From Middle English mele, from Old English melu (“meal, flour”), from Proto-Germanic *melwą (“meal, flour”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“to grind, mill”). More at meal.


-pter

From Ancient Greek πτερόν (pterón, “wing”).


-phyll

From Ancient Greek φύλλον (phúllon, “leaf”).


-corn

Latin caducus + -corn → caducicorn

culmen + -corn → culminicorn

deca- + -corn → decacorn


-odont

From the oblique stem of Ancient Greek ὀδούς (odoús).


R Us

After Toys "R" Us, American toy-store chain, itself a phonetic rendering of "toys are us".

"Geeks R Us" was a phrase that would often pop into my twisted little brain while I was initially learning to surf the 'Net.

1996, Dan DePardo, “Catching the Electronic Wave (The Article) "Way Long"”, in alt.sport.jet-ski (Usenet):

A board poster referred to Brandon as coming straight from the "Flaming Gays R Us" catalog!

2002, Joy in Virginia, “Mar 13, Show Summary”, in alt.radio.talk.dr-laura (Usenet):

Scenario: Someone wants to deliberately annoy you by phoning your number over and over again, or by putting your phone number on a Jerks R Us webforum.

2005, geminii@tpg.com.au, “What do I win?”, in alt.sysadmin.recovery (Usenet):

(humorous) Suggesting a group of people or repository of products of the specified kind.


-rel

From Middle English -rel, -erel, from Old French -erel, -erelle.

waste + -rel → wastrel

cock + -rel → cockerel


-side

fireside (“next to a fire”), railside (“alongside a railway”)

Forms adjectives describing position next to or alongside an object.

airside (“in the controlled part of an airport (as opposed to in the public part); to the controlled part of an airport”), planetside (“on a planet (as opposed to in space); to a planet”)

Forms adjectives and adverbs describing position in relation to a dividing line or other separation.

fireside (“the area next to a fire”), lockside (“the area surrounding a canal lock”)

Forms nouns describing the area alongside or around an object.

Deeside, Humberside, Merseyside, Tameside, Teesside

(chiefly UK) Forms proper nouns naming the conurbation around a river.


-wich

From Middle English wic, from Old English wīc (“abode, dwelling-place”), an early borrowing from Latin vīcus (“village”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyḱ- (“village, household”).
Latin cognate to Gothic 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍃 (weihs), Old High German weihs (“village, settlement”), from Proto-Germanic *wīhsą (“village, settlement”) of the same Proto-Indo-European root. Cognate to Dutch wijk (“neighbourhood”), and may replace it in borrowings. A related form with similar origin is Icelandic vík.

cog

(in placenames) Village; settlement; hamlet; trading centre.


-a-thon

The only discernable connection was the Block, each one of them feeding off the trough for his own peculiar need, strange bedfellows bouncing on the same sheets in a cosmic fuck-a-thon that, if televised, would raise [...] money [...]

2005, Frank A. DeFilippo, Hooked, page 72:

I need him here to have our back to school love-a-thon.

2010, Bernice Bright Dickey, My #1 Is Still My #1!, page 92:


-ibly

Euphonic blend of -ible + -ly, due to difficulty of pronouncing *-iblely. Compare same sound change in unrelated feebly, nimbly, and nobly.

audible → audibly

Used to form adverbs corresponding to adjectives that end in -ible.


C++

Notepad++

(computing) Indicates a product with additional features or functionality.


-yer

From Middle English, partly an alteration of -ier; and partly from -yere, -iere, -ȝere, the suffix -er appended to words ending in ȝ or g. More at -ier, -er.

law + -yer → lawyer

saw + -yer → sawyer

(rare, usually no longer productive) Agent suffix, equivalent to -er, appended to some nouns (especially those ending in the letter "w" or "v").


-merous

From French -mère and its etymon Ancient Greek -μερής (-merḗs, “having (the specified number of) parts”, “sharing”): the combining form of μέρος (méros, “part”)) with the English suffix -ous; compare the English -mer and -mere, as well as the French -mère and the German -mer.

der

(biology, forming adjectives) Having parts of the specified quality.

(chiefly botany and zoology, forming adjectives) Comprising the specified number of parts.


Perhaps derived from -er, with influence from the Latinate -or. Spelling due to leet.

that's true jak. you still may play with my hairs if you like. and gru, you too. we'll have a hairs party, and lay out in a circle, providing people with a hair swimming pool in the middle, eh? and jak, we've still got to get married and take S33kr1t Bat Snogging Pix0rs!! yes, my hair is still all here. it's getting a trim at the beginning of december, and im *scared*! im going to let my stylist cut it so it only reaches the top of my bum, i think. sigh.

1998 November 13, GothFaeri, “hair pouting”, in alt.gothic.fashion (Usenet), retrieved 2022-12-09:

2001 October 14, Pr|cK, “why the fux0r am i here when im not even a melb person?”, in melb.general (Usenet), retrieved 2022-12-09:

i'm actually quite flattered, i like being androgonous...but in that pix0r i thought i was being incredibly girly and i find it so amusing that you mistook me for a man! it made my morning! btw, what exactly in the pic of me said "man!" to you? i'm really curious!

2002 November 14, silver_cyber_aj, “Cyberdog in Vogue”, in uk.people.gothic (Usenet), retrieved 2022-12-09:

A 1337 hax0r huh? :)
In alt.hacker the method of getting a key or password by asking for it is called "social engineered" cracking. Kindof like the one running in the chat channels right now where the guy says you can find out your "standing in bnet" by simply whispering your login (and password) to him. Or the guy who says he can modify your account so that you have all godly items but he needs your CD key to do it
Im not saying anything you said is untrue. Im just commenting on the leet hax0r thing in the subject.

2003 May 17, Gandalf Parker, “need a cd-key (im a l337 hax0r)”, in alt.games.diablo2 (Usenet), retrieved 2022-12-09:

1) Cut just before Angel says 'Let's go to work' to a slow motion run of the gang towards the demons. (LOTR styleee innit!) lik0r, the intro title screen with Angel walking through an Alley, except it shows Angel and co chargings towards impossible forces.[…]
14) Spike and Angel are trying to kill0r the middle huge demons but are doing sweet FA damage. Cue some Fatherly and Son dialogue between Spike, Angel and Connor.[…]
16) Gunn is laying on the stairs and picks a few of the Grenades CONNOR left. CUE DRAMA music, and he walks up to the medium sized demons, and tells everyone to fu><0r off. "IT WAS A GOOD FIGHT, YEAH GUYS? RUN"

2004 May 23, Dan Lam, “Part two of the Angel Final Episode”, in alt.tv.angel (Usenet), retrieved 2022-12-09:

Play0r:
Mario and Weegie Partners in Time: DS. Just simply ACEBESTEST. It's funny, it's clever, it's explorey, it's rythmny and it's portable.[…]
Want0r:
Not really much in the way of games. Zelda, obviously. Some more DS stuff. Nothing specific.
 The usual migration stuff.
Binn0r:
Shit jobs.

2006 February 13, Sir Chewbury Gubbins, “Valentine (Almost) Play, Want, Bin”, in uk.games.video.misc (Usenet), retrieved 2022-12-09:

(Internet slang, leetspeak, nonstandard) General-purpose suffix for purposes of "leet" respelling, sometimes replacing -er or -or.


-centrism

A focus on, or belief in the superiority of, one culture, people, place, or other thing.


-ïng

beïng, doïng, goïng

skiïng, tryïng


-oecious

From Ancient Greek οἰκία (oikía, “house”) + -ous.

affix

Forms adjectives describing the arrangement of sexual organs.

(biology) Forms adjectives describing the host of an organism.


-pnea

Representing -πνοια (-pnoia), the common terminal element of the Ancient Greek ἄπνοια (ápnoia, “apnea”), δύσπνοια (dúspnoia, “dyspnea”), εὔπνοια (eúpnoia, “eupnea”), ὀρθόπνοια (orthópnoia, “orthopnea”), etc, from πνέω (pnéō, “I blow”) and πνοή (pnoḗ, “breath, breathing”).


-rrhœa

(British spelling) Obsolete spelling of -rrhoea.


-èd

(poetic) Alternative spelling of -ed, indicating that the last syllable is fully enunciated.


-astic

Used to form adjectives from nouns, often with the meaning meaning "of, or relating to".


-tome

From Ancient Greek -τομον (-tomon, “that cuts”), from τέμνω (témnō, “I cut”).


-tome

From Ancient Greek τομή (tomḗ), τόμος (tómos, “a cutting”), from τέμνω (témnō, “I cut”).


-tene

From Ancient Greek ταινία (tainía, “ribbon, band, fillet”).

bor

(biology) Ribbon-like structure; Used to form words relating the structure of chromosomes in meiosis


-odontia

Formed from the suffixation of ὀδόντ- (odónt-), the stem of the Ancient Greek ὀδούς (odoús, “tooth”), with the English suffix -ia; compare the Latin -odontia and the French -odontie.

(dentistry and medicine):
(forms nouns) branch of dentistry

(dentistry and medicine):
(forms nouns) condition of the teeth


-icism

From -ic + -ism, either based directly on the adjective in -ic (as in asceticism, mysticism), or on the verb in -ise (as in anglicism).
Some productivity within English, as in witticism (1670s, by analogy with criticism).

Forms abstract nouns from Greek or Latin bases.

-icizmus

forming abstract nouns from Greek or Latin bases


-nomics

From Ancient Greek νόμος (nómos, “law”). The addition of an English prefix thus indicates the "laws" of the discipline or area denoted by the prefix. By surface analysis, -nomy + -ics.


-nomics

(economics) Used to form nouns meaning the economics, economic practises, or economic philosophy of a specified person or state


-uret

Coined in 1788 by translator of de Morveau, Lavoisier et al.'s 1787 book Méthode de nomenclature chimique James St. John, from Modern Latin -uretum and French -ure.


-type

(biology) Used to form words referring to groups of organisms characterized by the presence of a specific feature


-furter

From the final element of frankfurter. Compare -burger.

krautfurter

chickenfurter

turkeyfurter

shrimpfurter

(chiefly US) German-style food, especially wursts or sausages.


-ay

"please be quiet or I'll cry" becomes "ease-play e-bay iet-quay or-way I'll-way y-cray"


-by

Ultimately from Old Norse býr (“settlement”).


-le

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-lōn, from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix).
Cognate with West Frisian -elje, Dutch -elen, German -eln, Danish -le, Norwegian Bokmål -le, Norwegian Nynorsk -la, Swedish -la, Icelandic -la. Compare -er.

inh

assle, buzzle, crackle, cuddle, dazzle, draggle, drawl, dribble, drizzle, fumble, gamble, grapple, handle, jostle, kissle, maddle, mingle, nestle, nuzzle, prattle, quible, ramble, rattle, ripple, scribble, sile, sizzle, smartle, sniffle, snuggle, startle, stopple, suckle, tattle, tickle, topple, waggle, whemmle, wiggle, wrestle

A frequentative suffix of verbs, indicating repetition or continuousness:


-le

From Middle English -el, -le (adjectival), from Old English -el, -ol, from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz and *-ilaz (adjective suffixes). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el, Icelandic -ill.

battle, breakle, brittle, fickle, forgettle, little, newfangle, nimble, wankle

Forming adjectives from verbs with the meaning of "prone to", "tending to", "apt to", "capable of"; compare -ative:


-le

From Middle English -el (agent suffix), from a combination of two suffixes:
* Old English -el, -il (diminutive suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (diminutive suffix).
* Old English -el, -ol, -ul (agent suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent suffix). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el.

Coordinate term: -ling

dump + -le → dimple

dung + -le → dingle

hatch + -le → hatchel

hose + -le → hosel

howf + -le → hovel

gome + -le → gomeral

corn + -le → kernel

new + -le → newel

nose + -le → nozzle

puck + -le → puckle

turd + -le → treddle

beadle, beetle, bridle, bundle, cripple, fettle, girdle, ladle, losel, runnel, shovel, spindle, spittle, steeple, stile, stopple, thimble, tool, towel, trundle


-gerous

From Latin gerō (“I carry”) + English -ous.


-kins

“But what about Bobbykins your lovely doggie?” asked his mother plaintively.

They can't drive a vehicle, cook a meal, or walk Fluffykins at the same time that they watch your video podcast, so you gain greater audience focus.

2008, Tee Morris, Chuck Tomasi, Evo Terra, Podcasting For Dummies, page 144:

Forms (often intentionally childish or twee) diminutives of nouns.


-ren

Back-formation from children and brethren, ultimately from Middle English -ren, -eren (compounded plural ending), from Middle English -re, -ere (from Old English -ru (plural ending)) + Middle English -en (from Old English -an (plural ending)).

As Ciddy and child had slept soundly under Omeriah's roof, a group of young "kidren" playing outside sang a "ring song" […]

2006, Timothy White, Catch a fire: the life of Bob Marley:

Unruly kidren would fling rockstone after him.

This exercise will help you develop the skills to tell your ninja brethren (and sistren and thingren) apart. Simply match the name of each famous ninja with his/her/its deadly eyes.

2008, Douglas Sarine, Kent Nichols, The Ninja Handbook:

(chiefly nonstandard, humorous) Used to form the plural of nouns


-iour

behaviour, saviour

(no longer productive) Suffix added to verbs to form nouns.


-land

Graceland /ɡɹeɪs.lənd/

Disneyland /dɪz.ni.lænd/

In "Bobland," as Robert Burridge refers to his studio, the artist surrounds himself with vibrant color.

2005, Caroline Jasper, Powercolor: master color concepts for all media, →ISBN, page 132:

[…] Jeff Bridges, the loathsome journalist (and in Bobland there is no other sort) is grinding out his weary cynical take […]

2006, Michael Gray, The Bob Dylan encyclopedia, page 454:

'As long as you treat the kids properly and help financially I don't care what you do.' [Kevin] exhaled loudly. 'Thanks, Annie. You're a wonderful woman and I do love you, you know that.' So in Kevinland that made everything right.

2013, Elisabeth Rose, E For England, →ISBN:

Used to form the name of a territory, country, or region.

-स्तान

connected with diacritic -i- after consonants

computerland

screenland

Used to form the name of a sphere of activity or interaction.


-landia

"The action takes place in Fucklandia in the city of Venus-Mound situated on the banks of the Brothela, in the palace of Testiculus."

1987, Robert Maccubbin, Tis Nature's Fault: Unauthorized Sexuality during the Enlightenment, page 235:

Keltner Enterprises has acquired an 80% interest in Jacklandia (a foreign company).

2008, Paul Fischer, Rita Cheng, William Taylor, Advanced Accounting, page 666:

I set down a fishy can of tuna, which in Catlandia is as enticing as foie gras to gourmets and shooting speedballs to junkies.

2011, Jeff Kahn, You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up: A Love Story, page 46:

(humorous) A fictional or metaphorical place relating to the person or thing being suffixed.


-crete

Ceramacrete was a hard substance used to pave roads.

indicating a material functionally similar to concrete


-phony

Forms nouns related to sound or musical structure


-saurus

From Ancient Greek σαῦρος (saûros, “lizard, reptile”), inspired by its use in taxonomic names for dinosaurs.

der

Forms names for real or imaginary dinosaurs.


-punk

First used when coining cyberpunk or as a back-formation to coin steampunk. Probably from the influence of the punk subculture on these genres.

Denotes a futuristic, aesthetically-oriented genre of fiction based on the noun to which it is suffixed, usually involving ahistorical or anachronistic technology and its effects on society.


-ily

Combination of -y (“adjectival suffix”) + -ly (“adverbial suffix”), with -y changed to -i-.

greed → greedy → greedily

noise → noisy → noisily

fun → funny → funnily

Forms adverbs from nouns and verbs whose derived adjectives are suffixed with -y.


-sies

From -s (plural marker) + -y (diminutive suffix) + -s (plural marker).

af

A diminutive suffix used to add an element of childishness, informality, affectionateness, or levity to a word.


-pants

[book title]

1986, Babette Cole, Princess Smartypants, Hamish Hamilton, →ISBN:

We used to call her Miss Bossy Pants when she was a kid.

1999, Eden Robinson, Monkey Beach: A Novel, Abacus, (cited from Houghton Mifflin/Mariner Books, 2002), p. 91

You had to pull one of your stupid disappearing tricks because you were being a pouty-pants.

2005, Lauren Myracle, Rhyme with Witches, Amulet Books, →ISBN, page 21:

Gee, maybe her name should be "Princess Demandy Pants".

2012, April 21, Meghan McCarthy, "A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1" [television episode], My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

bossypants, fancypants, smarty pants, greedy-pants, pouty pants

(informal, usually derogatory) Used with adjectives ending in -y to form nicknames based on a negative quality of a person.


-sis

Ultimately from Ancient Greek -σις (-sis, “forms noun of action”), often via Latin or French. Identical in meaning with Latin -entia, English -ing.

der

catharsis, dialysis, diagnosis, crisis

psoriasis, sepsis, tuberculosis, psychosis

basis, oasis, thesis, stasis


-riffic

Probably a rebracketing of terrific. Used in the 1950s to form trademarks and words used in advertising.

... he remained in the "swank" II Redentore Suite of the "exclusive" L'Elegance whenever he and "curvaceous starlet" Geni What- everhernamewas "(40-20-35)" were not being a "two-riffic twosome" at some "plush nitery."

Put them in a gift bag with the note, "You're a tea-riffic boss," or, "As bosses go, you suit us to a tea!"

2003, Robyn Freedman Spizman, The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide ..., page 90:

Like Pip, I too have great expectations, or as Sinatra would say, high hopes, although it's hard to keep them in mind when your job requires you to say things like "Would you care for one of our chick-a-riffic side dishes?"

2004, Marc Acito, How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater, Random House, →ISBN, page 104:

How can university professors turn computer curmudgeons into techno-riffic teachers?

2005, Jacqueline Hansen, “Training Techno-riffic Teachers”, in M. O. Thirunarayanan, Aixa Pérez-Prado, editors, Integrating Technology In Higher Education, University Press of America, →ISBN, page 275:

Now birdbaths can be as fun and lively as you like, suited to any style and budget, and super-simple or gizmo-riffic.

2008, Deborah L. Martin, Best-Ever Backyard Birding Tips, Rodale, →ISBN, page 177:

It really was pimp-a-riffic. Straight out of a vintage porno, I swear to God.

2011, Cherie Priest, Hellbent, Random House, →ISBN, page 106:

Moo-riffic Milk Sure, kids love milk, but at snacktime, try jazzing up the plain stuff with fruit, cocoa, and other fun flavors.

2012, Dana Points et al., editors, Parents® Quick & Easy Kid-Friendly Meals, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 182:

Thankfully, King Homer, like non-King Homer, has an angel named Marge to save him from himself and his rages. In an agreeably perverse resolution, “King Homer” ends with King Homer marrying Marge in a ceremony that brings together the species in a bestiality-riffic ending.

2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, review of the Simpsons episode “Treehouse of Horror III”, in The A.V. Club

Used to form intensified adjectives from nouns and adjectives.


-bound

Belgium, with Chelsea-bound Eden Hazard and a host of Premier League talent in their line-up, dominated territory for long spells but once again England demonstrated admirable resolve to ensure they leave for their Krakow base this week with another win to accompany them.

2012 June 2, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Belgium”, in BBC Sport:

Confined or restricted to a certain place; unable to move in certain conditions; -ridden


-verse

Quite simply, a feed reader lets you stay up to date with all your friends in the blogiverse, without forcing you to surf back to every blog 94 times a day to check if anything's new.

2006, Matthew MacDonald, Creating Web Sites: the Missing Manual:

The “Twitterverse” was alive with eyewitness accounts, but CNN was silent about the disputed election and those coming out to support the Iranian presidential challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi.

2010, Yahya Kamalipour, Media, Power, and Politics in the Digital Age:

Forming compound nouns denoting the whole range or totality of what is indicated by the first element.

Women's lib in the BSGverse.

2008, Lynnette Porter, David Lavery, Hillary Robson, Finding Battlestar Galactica, page 150:

This is Uhura's – and Uhura's fans' – big moment, the moment in which she blazingly comes alive as a member of the Trekverse.

2009, David Greven, Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek, page 216:

Forming compounds nouns denoting the fictional world of a given character, television series etc.


-pause

From Middle French pause, from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis, “discontinuance”).

Indicative of a pause or discontinuance.


-troph

From Ancient Greek τροφή (trophḗ, “nourishment”).

Forming nouns denoting members of classes of organisms distinguished by trophic modes.


-licious

If you prefer your burgers hot and spicy, then add the jalapeño seeds to this veggie-licious wrap.

2011, Nancy Kennedy, The Hollywood Wrap: 100 Quick and Easy Meals to Fuel Your Workout, page 83:

It is packed with families dining under the live oaks at wooden picnic tables on food that is simply burgerlicious and better for dad's soul than nightly chicken

2009, Cam Rossie, Hilary Hylton, Insiders' Guide to Austin, page 100:

The best sellers, day to day, month to month, no matter the season, were apricot chicken tenders, sesame noodles, and pasta nests. Here are three pasta-licious nests, adapted for your home production kitchen.

2005, Rachael Ray, 365: No Repeats : a Year of Deliciously Different Dinners, page 241:

A catering business called Stranjahs advertises that they will provide ganjalicious goodies for private parties.

2001, Ed Rosenthal, The Big Book of Buds: Marijuana Varieties from the World's Great Seed Breeders, page 123:

And unlike his Davis, California homey DJ Shadow, who smothers tracks with avant-garde displays of turntable mastery, Mike isn't afraid to let his B-boy bouillabaisse coalesce into real bootylicious grooves that are more about moving the crowd than wowing elitist nerds who crowd around the DJ booth.

1998 September, Matt Diehl, Vibe, volume 6, numbers 6-8, page 302:

Used to form intensified adjectives indicating deliciousness, from nouns and adjectives.


-tard

The left-right parallels are obvious, too, in the puerile nicknames used by radio hosts and in the comment threads of blogs and articles, whether for each other (libtards, dumbocrats, repugnicans, repukes), for public figures (Dumbya, Slick Willie, Shillary, Michael Moron), or for the media themselves (lamestream media, "Faux News").

2012, Geoffrey Nunberg, Ascent of the A-word: Assholism, the First Sixty Years, page 188:

' Shittard bollocking fuckcunts!' Harry Tattershall is a magnificent and venomous swearer: doing things with words that other people would require a snooker ball and a football sock to achieve.

ʺOK, not that. No diddling the dumbtard.ʺ He paused. ʺWouldnʹt blame you if you were, though. Sheʹs kinda dishy.ʺ

2014, Michaelbrent Collings, This Darkness Light, page 249:

(slang, derogatory) Used to form words conveying an attitude of contempt or doubt over the subject's intelligence.


-rrhaphy

From Ancient Greek -ρραφία (-rrhaphía), from ῥάπτω (rháptō, “I sew”).


-pexy

an aspect of many surgical operations named with this suffix


-bie

From newbie.
Etymology tree
English newbie
English -bie

etymon

Combined with a descriptor conveying a characteristic (such as skill, experience, or social position) to form words for people.


-care

Used to denote a plan that provides health care services.


-phagous

From Latin -phagus, from Ancient Greek -φάγος (-phágos, “-eating”), from φαγεῖν (phageîn, “to eat”).

der

Used to form adjectives meaning "eating" or "feeding on".


-co

Used to construct company names that borrow meaning from the root word.


-amundo

Possibly from a confusion of Spanish -mente (adverbial suffix) with mundo (“world”). Popularized by the character Fonzie on the sitcom Happy Days.

The days when The Fonz can come riding in and solve all my problems with a few choice words are long gone! So why don't you leave-amundo?

1983 November 1, “Welcome Home: Part 2”, in Happy Days, season 11, episode 5, spoken by Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard):

How scared should you be? YIKESAMUNDO

2001 April 1, David Lazaroff, Correctamundo!: Prickly Pete's Guide to Desert Facts & Cactifracts, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Press, →ISBN, →OL:


-odynia

From international scientific vocabulary, reflecting a New Latin combining form, from Ancient Greek ὀδύνη (odúnē, “sorrow, grief, anguish, unhappiness”).

bor

-dynia

when the preceding morpheme has a terminal vowel


-hedra

From Ancient Greek ἕδρα (hédra, “face of a geometrical solid”).


-oth

Used to form plurals of some Hebrew loanwords ending in -a or -ah.


-acal

Used to form an adjective from a noun, as in maniacal


-een

Borrowed from Irish -ín (diminutive suffix).

man + -een → maneen (“little man”)

(Ireland) Used to form the diminutives of nouns in Hiberno-English.

poitín → poteen

(Ireland) Used to anglicise the Irish -ín suffix when anglicising Irish nouns.


-oon

(no longer productive) Forming nouns, mainly in borrowed words.


-morphy

From Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “shape”), partly after -μορφία (-morphía).


-geddon

Colorado stood at the brink of an outbreak that another Forest Service entomologist would dub “Beetlegeddon.”

2012, Michael Lanza, Before They're Gone: A Family's Year-Long Quest to Explore America's Most Endangered National Parks, page 104:

Every year, I start with such good intentions. Then comes 'Tomatogeddon'. Horticultural humiliation. But together, we shall learn how to grow respectable, prolific tomato plants.

2017, Hollie Newton, How to Grow: A Guide for Gardeners Who Can't Garden Yet, page 169:

Fears grow of ‘potatogeddon’ after up to 30% of the crop are hit by heavy rains blamed on climate change

2017 October 16, Eleanor Ainge Roy, “Chipocalypse: potato shortage in New Zealand sparks crisp crisis”, in The Guardian:

Denoting a catastrophic event caused by or related to the stem word.


-mageddon

The North Island's spudmageddon would not impact supply to supermarket customers in the South, he said.

2014 December 1, Collette Devlin, “Potato shortage ripples through North Island”, in Stuff.co.nz:

2018 May 31, Dan Zakreski, “'Elmageddon' hits Saskatoon and Regina as trees dump massive volume of seeds”, in CBC.ca:

Last year may not have brought the upstate Tickmageddon that some had predicted, but state researchers found plentiful ticks in the field last summer and fall — and more ticks equals more disease.

2018 August 23, “Lyme diseases cases spiked by 50 percent in Dutchess in 2017”, in Poughkeepsie Journal:


-pterous

From Ancient Greek πτερ(όν) (pter(ón), “wing”) + -ous.

af

Having wings (of a specified size, type or number)


-pteran

From Ancient Greek πτερόν (pterón, “wing”) + -an.


-tainment

Denoting material created in part to entertain, while also serving another purpose.


-exia

From Ancient Greek ἕξις (héxis, “possession, condition”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “to have”).

der

(pathology) Forms the names of functional diseases or of conditions such as pyrexia or cachexia.


-mantic

Forms adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -mancy.


-lect

From the terminal element of dialect, thus representing the Ancient Greek element -λεκτος (-lektos), ultimately from λέγω (légō, “I say or speak”).


-opsia

From Koine Greek -οψία (-opsía), related to ὀπτικός (optikós, “optic, pertaining to sight”).

(ophthalmology) Forming compound nouns denoting specific deficiencies of sight.


-sion

From Latin, from words suffixed with -iō with a preceding -s-.

allusion, confusion, vision

Variant of -tion, most common in words inherited directly from Latin with an accusative singular ending in -sionem.


-women

horsewomen, sportswomen; newswomen, policewomen; superwomen.


-sauce

Probably a back-formation from awesome sauce.

awesome + -sauce → awesomesauce

weak + -sauce → weaksauce

lame + -sauce → lamesauce

(slang) Used to add emphasis to adjectives, especially those that relate to cool- or uncoolness.


-rrhagia

From Latin -rrhagia, from Ancient Greek -ραγία (-ragía), from the stem of ῥήγνυμι (rhḗgnumi, “to break, burst”).

(medicine) Forms nouns indicating excessive discharge or haemorrhage from an organ.


-ician

From French -icien, from -ique f sg + -ien. By surface analysis, -ic + -ian.

obstetrics + -ician → obstetrician

phonetics + -ician → phonetician

A person who studies or is an expert in the related -ics.


-oxy

(organic chemistry) An ether functional group, consisting of a carbon chain with an intervening oxygen atom at the attachment point.


-izer

used to form nouns which are formed from verbs from nouns or adjectives, the final nouns having the sense of "the agent which makes what is denoted by the noun/adjective".


-idium

From Ancient Greek -ίδιον (-ídion, “diminutive”).

basidium, spermidium, planidium, meconidium, glochidium

reproductive organ
reproductive organ#English

Forms names of body parts, mainly of invertebrate animals, fungi and plants.

(most common) reproductive organs, gametes, and early life stages

scolopidium, ommatidium, (not arthropodan) sphaeridium

stethidium, chilidium, limbidium, phyllidium, gonidium

various segments (arthropods) and functional processes

ctenidium, taenidium

chromidium, cytoophidium


-ception

Back-formed from words such as nociception and proprioception.


-ception

From the 2010 science fiction film Inception, in which a team of people infiltrate someone’s subconscious mind, proceeding through several layers of dreams.

Adapted from David Mitchell's novel of the same name, Cloud Atlas is a story-ception; a post apocalyptic campfire story about a guy watching a movie in which someone reads a novel whose main character follows a series of letters.

2012 September 10, Timothy Morrise, “Reviewer previews his top picks for fall movie season”, in University Journal, page 6:

Playception: Each actor must portray a character playing another character.

2012, Maura Breen, "Latest play presents challenge for actors", Tan & Cardinal (Otterbein University), Volume 94, Issue 5, 26 September 2012, page 4 (image caption)

Seen any horrendous foodceptions you just can't wrap your head around (like pasta burritos)?

2013 November, Kelly Herman, “Foodception: A Review”, in Campus Talk, published 2013, page 9:

(slang) Combined with a noun to indicate a layering, nesting, or recursion of the thing in question.


-alia

kitchenalia ― objects typically found or used in a kitchen

Objects associated with a particular thing.


-alia

(occurs in loanwords from Latin) Appears in the names of Roman festivals.


-max

Panama Canal → Panamax

Suez Canal → Suezmax

Denotes maximum dimensions of a vessel that can travel through the given canal.


-splain

From splain, itself from explain, following the pattern of mansplain.

So please, don’t ablesplain to me. Especially when you have no idea about the context of what bigotry you’re trying to justify.

2012 December 22, Bunnika, “For reblogging: No crip has to be nice to ableists”, in Cumulative notes for the Zōon Politikon, retrieved 2014-04-27:

You see, thinsplains Callahan, because nothing else seems to be working, we must turn to making obese people feel bad about themselves in order to shed the pounds.

2013 January 15, Dan O'Connor, “Dan Callahan Thinsplains Obesity”, in Berman Institute Bioethics Bulletin, retrieved 2013-04-28:

The PM urges 29-year-old Princeton alum O’Connor to decide immediately whether she wants a husband and children, and it sounds a lot like momsplaining to O’Connor that she definitely wants a husband and children.

2014 March 14, Katy Waldman, “Princeton Mom's One Saving Grace”, The XX Factor, in Slate:

(slang) A suffix combined with a descriptive adjective or noun to create a verb meaning someone who fits that description condescendingly explaining something to someone who does not fit that description (especially, something the listener has more experience of).


-pathic

From Ancient Greek πάθος (páthos, “suffering”) + -ic.

idiopathic

psychopathic

sociopathic


-mance

to carry out a specified form of divination


-mance

I very much look forward to this on my Dorianmance playthrough.

My Andersmance was taken at a more leisurely pace, so I really got into the depth and grief over his character and his romance.

My own Galemance run will go full swing once my Astarionmance one wraps up, so more to come soon ☺

2023 September 19, Irma 'Aimo (@aimostudio), Twitter:

(fandom slang, video games) A suffix attached to a noun or character's name to create a word for an in-game romance subplot or mechanic.


-stat

The terminal element in certain names of scientific instruments, employed on the analogy of early coinages from other languages, namely heliostat (from the New Latin hēliostata, itself apparently representing an assumed Ancient Greek etymon of the form *ἡλιοστάτης (hēliostátēs), from ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”) + -στατης (-statēs), the latter an agent-nominal suffix from the aorist active participial stem (the στα- (sta-) root) of ἵστημι (hístēmi, “I cause to stand”, “I set”)), siderostat (from the Latin sīdus, star + the Ancient Greek -στατης (-statēs)), and aerostat (from the French aérostat, itself a back-formation from aérostatique (formed after hydrostatique), formed on the analogy of héliostat); later coinages have been formed on the analogy of heliostat, apparently with some reference to the Ancient Greek στατός (statós, “standing”, “stationary”). See also clinostat, hydrostat, and thermostat.

forming nouns naming scientific instruments that act to render the prefixed element stationary or static in some respect

(pharmacology) Used to form names of enzyme inhibitors.


-parous

From Latin pariō (“produce, bring forth, give birth”).

parous; relating to parity (the number of times a woman has given birth).

Causing or producing (the thing indicated by the stem to which the suffix is attached).


-iety

From French -ieté or its source, Latin -ietas.

Forming nouns denoting the quality or condition of being what is indicated by the first element of the word.


-topia

Back-formation from utopia and other words ultimately deriving from Ancient Greek τόπος (tópos, “place”).

Place; position; location; geographic region.

They haven't seen humans for years, so when a small expedition, led by Jason Clarke, stumbles into apetopia, both sides are taken aback.

2014 July 1, Steve Rose, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: a primate scream - first look review”, in The Guardian:


-tropism

From Latin tropus (English trope) + -ism, from Ancient Greek τρόπος (trópos, “a turn, way, manner, style, a trope or figure of speech, a mode in music, a mode or mood in logic”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “turn; solstice; trope”). Early use in botany as geotropism and heliotropism.


-tropy

Borrowed from French -tropie, from Ancient Greek -τροπία (-tropía), from τρόπος (trópos, “a turn”).

(sciences) turning, affecting, change, response, movement.


-trope

From Latin tropus, from Ancient Greek τρόπος (trópos, “a turn, way, manner, style, a trope or figure of speech, a mode in music, a mode or mood in logic”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “turn; solstice; trope”). See trope.

(sciences) something that turns, affects, changes, responds, moves.


-nado

fire → firenado

snow → snownado

Denoting a hurricane or a whirl containing or made of the stem word.


-poly

Derived, by analogy with monopoly, from the root of Ancient Greek πωλέω (pōléō, “I sell”).

(economics) Pertaining to the number of sellers in a market.

-poli

pertaining to the number of sellers in a market

Pertaining to a derivative of the board game Monopoly.


-plinerved

(botany, of leaves) Indicating that the main nerves are lateral and arise from a point distinctly above the base of the leaf. Combined with a numerical prefix: 3-plinerved, 5-plinerved, etc.


-fag

→ Finnish: -homo (calque)

From fag (“homosexual man, annoying person, etc.”); compare -man. Popularized on the 4chan online community. First attested in c. early 2000s.
For similar semantic drift in slang from derogatory to neutral, ironic or affectionate, compare some senses of bugger, cunt, etc.

I'll forward this to a few lawfags and see what he^([sic]) deal is.

2008 May 18, Askren [username], “Re: Is Cos and RTC violating U.S. tax law?”, in alt.religion.scientology (Usenet):

Oh, also, using Outhouse Express...yeah, really shows off what a Usenet newfag you are, just a lil FYI for ya. You might wanna try XNews or Agent or any *REAL* news browser (not a mail client with some sloppily added extras).

2008 July 11, Onideus Mad Hatter [username], “BTW Lego Newfag”, in rec.toys.lego (Usenet):

The pathetic Usenet oldfags will cling to their pathetic, outdated and boring medium as the new-world forumites rule the Interwebs universe.

2009 June 18, Onslaught Six [username], “Re: I really didn't study for this test”, in alt.toys.transformers (Usenet):

(Internet slang, originally 4chan, offensive, derogatory) Suffix that forms pejorative nouns, generally referring to specific types of people and sometimes used ironically or even affectionately.


-henge

Used to refer to derivatives of Stonehenge.

Manhattanhenge

MIThenge

The alignment of the sun at sunrise or sunset with a street, building, or other manmade structure on a particular day of the year.


-oyl

(chemistry) Forming the names of acyl radicals from the names of corresponding carboxylic acids.


-tope

From Ancient Greek τόπος (tópos, “place”).


-ses

hobbitses' pocketses; sockses on foxes

For quotations using this term, see Citations:-ses.

Alternative form of -sies (“diminutive modifier used to add childishness, informality, affectionateness or levity to a word”) (also used to form some nonstandard plurals like hobbitses, pantses)


-otic

Borrowed from French -otique, from Latin -ōticus, from Ancient Greek -ωτικός (-ōtikós), from -όω (-óō)-stem verbs + -τικός (-tikós). Equivalent to -όω (-óō) + -σις (-sis) + -ικός (-ikós).

psychosis + -otic → psychotic

(pathology) Having disease or abnormal condition.

symbiosis + -otic → symbiotic


-full

bowl-full


-sicle

(informal) A suffix combined with a noun to indicate something cold or frozen.


-ji

From a suffix found in various languages of the Indian subcontinent, e.g. Hindi -जी (-jī).


-sploitation

From exploitation, in the sense exploitation film.

exploitation of a specific demographic, person, or thing, particularly in media.


-tacular

Sound bites from reporters said, “Miley Cyrus’s JAW-DROPPING TWERK-a-thon,” the “twerk-tacular,” “twerk-and-tongue work,” in the “twerk seen ’round the world!”

2016, Jacqueline Warwick, Allison Adrian, editors, Voicing Girlhood in Popular Music, Routledge, →ISBN:

(slang, often ironic) Used to form adjectives denoting some type of exceptionality.


-rrhoea

(British spelling) Alternative spelling of -rrhea


-lytic

Used in adjectives relating to nouns with the suffix -lysis.


-static

used in adjectives relating to nouns with the suffix -stasis


-phagia

From Ancient Greek -φαγία (-phagía) (compare -φαγος (-phagos, “eater”)), suffix corresponding to φαγεῖν (phageîn, “to eat”), infinitive of ἔφαγον (éphagon, “I eat”), which serves as aorist for the defective verb ἐσθίω (esthíō, “I eat”).


-clase

From Ancient Greek κλᾰ́σῐς (klắsĭs, “breaking, fracture”) (via French -clase), from κλάω (kláō, “I break”).

(mineralogy) fracture (having a fracture of such a form)


-phasia

From Ancient Greek φάσις (phásis, “utterance”), from φημί (phēmí, “I say”).

aphasia, dysphasia, monophasia, schizophasia

Used to form the names of disorders and phenomena relating to words and speech.


-sexual

Forms a noun or adjective describing a state or style of sexuality


-ers

Etymology tree
English -er
English -ers
From -er.

breakfast + -ers → brekkers

divinity + -ers → divvers (“the study of religion”)

(informal, originally school slang) Used to form slang or colloquial equivalents of words.

(informal, originally school slang) Used to form mostly adjectives used informally.


-rrhexis

From New Latin, from Ancient Greek ῥῆξις (rhêxis).


-work

From Middle English -work, -werk, from Old English -weorc, -ġeweorc, equivalent to English work. Compare also Saterland Frisian -werk, Dutch -werk, German -werk, Norwegian -verk.

masonwork

metalwork

needlework

woodwork

Denoting a craft involving a particular material, tool, or practitioner

ironwork

paintwork

stonework

waxwork

Denoting a structure or work of art crafted chiefly from a given material

bridgework

clockwork

coachwork

latticework

Denoting the structure or mechanism of a given object.


-olol

From propranolol. By surface analysis, reduplication of -ol.

β-adrenoceptor
w:adrenergic receptors#β receptors

(pharmacology) Used to form names of compounds with the structure Ar–OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂NH–R used as β-adrenoceptor antagonists.


-ometry

From the ending of words such as geometry; compare -o-, -metry.

Forming compound nouns describing "the action or process of measuring" something, frequently with corresponding nouns in -ometer.


-kini

By extraction from bikini, in interpreting the "bi" as a prefix bi-, creating a new suffix.

bikini

a two-piece swimsuit for women, with a top and a bottom

trikini

a type swimsuit for women, which uses three strategic fabric triangles

facekini

a piece of swimwear worn on the head and covering the face and head

burkini

a full body bathing suit for women, which includes a hood

bandkini

a swimsuit consisting of a strapless bandeau top and a bikini bottom

halterkini

a swimsuit consisting of a halter top and a bikini bottom

tankini

a bathing suit composed of a tank top and the lower half of a bikini

skirtini

a two-piece swimsuit consisting of a top and a short, skirted bottom

microkini

a very skimpy bikini that covers just the genitals and nipples

slingkini

a one-piece swimsuit resembling the Y-shape frame of a slingshot which is supported by fabric at the neck

stringkini

a two-piece swimsuit attached by strings that is scantier and more revealing than a regular bikini

camikini

a swimsuit consisting of a thin-strapped camisole top and a bikini bottom


-saur

From Ancient Greek σαῦρος (saûros, “lizard, reptile”) or σαύρα (saúra).

bor

Used in the common names of extinct reptilian creatures such as dinosaurs


-onium

(particle physics) Designating an onium particle.

Alternative form: -ium

quaternary ammonium compound
quaternary ammonium compound#English

neuromuscular blocking agent
w:neuromuscular-blocking drug

(pharmacology) Used to form names of quaternary ammonium compounds used as neuromuscular blocking agents, cholinergic agents, anticholinergic agents, antibacterials/antiseptics, or other agents.


-worth

Well! he's doing well, now, partaking of a little boiled chicken, and an egg or so, while the average Britisher has a hell of a job to get a shillingworth of meat a week and has to queue up for hours for eggs.

1941, Betty Swallow, private correspondance, quoted in 2009, Dear Helen: Wartime Letters from a Londoner to Her American Pen Pal, University of Missouri Press, page 177

[S]he alone, to the best of my knowledge, has ridden far and fast in all weathers in the passenger seat, which is not a seat at all but the aforesaid oil tank, all 3½-gallonsworth.

1951, Henry Sturmey, H. Walter Staner, The Autocar: A Journal Published in the Interests of the Mechanically Propelled Road Carriage, page 104:

I sway in my uncertainty; should I drain this and go? or seek another pintsworth of that impenetrable mystery?

2005, Peter Finch, Grahame Davies, The Big Book of Cardiff: New Writing from Europe's Youngest Capital, Poetry Wales Press:

Denotes a quantity corresponding to the time, value or dimension of the suffixed term.


-iad

The Athletiad, The Congressiad, The Female Dunciad, The Mooriad, The Popiad, The Rapiad, The Scribleriad

1798, James Lovell Moore, The Columbiad: an epic poem on the discovery of America and the West Indies by Columbus, in twelve books:

Forming the name of an epic about the indicated topic.


-iad

Based on Olympiad, and perhaps also influenced by the common ending iad on units of time formed by suffixing -ad to words ending in -ium, e.g. decenniad.

Acrid the temper of the parties, vital the pending questions. Congress convenes; the President sends his Message; Reconstruction is still in abeyance; the nominations and the contest for the twenty-first Presidentiad draw close, [...]

1871, Walt Whitman, Democratic Vistas, page 28:

(rare) A period of time from one occurrence of an (indicated, regularly recurrent) event to the next.


-acious

audacity → audacious

sage → sagacious

fallacy → fallacious

Used to form adjectives from nouns and verb stems.


-zza

Australian origin. Combination of -z and -er.

Boris → Bozza, Sharon → Shazza, Charlotte → Chazza

(Australia, New Zealand, UK) Forms nicknames, especially of personal names.


-gaze

(music) Denotes a genre of music which makes heavy use of distortion effects and wall of sound production.


-lin

From Middle English -lin, variant of -ling. More at -ling.


-sal

(pharmacology) Used to form names of salicylic acid derivatives.


-amic

(chemistry) Of, relating to, or derived from an amine, amide or amic acid.


-burg

From Old English burg (“fortified place”).


-boro

From boro, from Old English burh (“fortified place”).


-phily

From Ancient Greek φιλία (philía, “(fraternal) love”).


-onymy

From international scientific vocabulary, reflecting a New Latin combining form (-onymia), from Ancient Greek ὄνομα (ónoma, “name”)/Ancient Greek ὄνυμα (ónuma, “name”) (whence also onoma) + -ia; compare also ὄνομα § Derived terms.

Used to form nouns describing the study, formation, or use of words or names

-onímia

used to form nouns describing the study, formation, or use of words or names


-odd

twenty-odd identifiable factors affecting the outcome

one-hundred-and-fifty-odd spectators in the stands

Plus some indeterminate fraction not amounting to the next higher round number or significant digit; and change; -some.


-strophy

From Ancient Greek στροφή (strophḗ, “a turn, bend, twist”).

bor

Used to form nouns indicating a turn or twist of the indicated kind


-megaly

From Ancient Greek μεγάλος (megálos), further μέγας (mégas).


-mans

Cognate with English -ment, French -ment and Italian -mente.

darkmans ← dark

lightmans ← light

(obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) Appended to adjectives to form nouns meaning "the state of being (the adjective)", "the quality of being (the adjective)", or "the measure of being (the adjective)".

Cheapmans ← Cheapside

Gracemans ← Gracechurch Street Market

(obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) Substitute for part of another word to disguise meaning.


-arche

From Ancient Greek ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “beginning”). First used in menarche.

forms medical terms for the onset of certain changes in puberty


-ptile

Representing the Ancient Greek πτῐ́λον (ptĭ́lon, “feather”, “down”; “leaf”); in the botanical sense denoting leaves, probably after the French -ptile. Compare ptilo-.

der

coleoptile, endoptile, exoptile

(botany, forming adjectives and nouns) type of leaf

neossoptile, teleoptile, trichoptile

(ornithology, forming nouns) type of plumage


-nema

From Ancient Greek νῆμᾰ (nêmă, “thread”). Compare nemat-.

(chiefly biology) Characteristic of, pertaining to, or possessing a filiform structure.


-adenia

From Ancient Greek ἀδήν (adḗn, “gland”) + -ia.


-ennial

From Latin -enniālis, from annus + -ium + -ālis.


-gony

From Ancient Greek γονή (gonḗ, “generation”).

telegony (tele- + -gony)

gametogony (gamete + -o- + -gony)

Forms nouns that describe the genesis of a class of thing.


-chezia

Representing the Ancient Greek χέζω (khézō, “I defecate”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, “-ia”, suffix forming abstract nouns).

der

allo- + -chezia → allochezia

hemato- + -chezia → hematochezia

dys- + -chezia → dyschezia

(literally and figuratively, forms nouns) defecation


-ific

From Latin -ficus, from facere (“to make”).

horrific: causing horror

(informal) Very; extremely; forming adjectives from nouns.


-shire

A combining form used in the names of British counties.


-witz

Added to a stem to form a patronymic or matronymic surname.


-topic

From Latin topica, from Ancient Greek τοπικός (topikós, “pertaining to a place, local, pertaining to a common place, or topic, topical”), from τόπος (tópos, “a place”); equivalent to -topia + -ic.


-ein

(chemistry) Used in a compound distinguished from a compound with a name ending in -in or -ine.


-petal

Formed from the stem of Latin petō, petere (“seek, aim”), with the suffix -al, from Latin -alis.


-o-matic

The Fix-o-Matic 2000 set about repairing the old car.

Appended to titles of (often fictional) machines, especially to suggest that the verb to which the suffix is appended is its primary function.


-scopic

From -scope + -ic.
Etymology tree
English -scope
English -ic
English -scopic

etymon

Forming adjectives relating to observation or viewing.


-mont

From French -mont, from French mont (“hill, mountain”).

Forming a placename or a surname derived therefrom and denoting or connoting a hill or mountain; sometimes (as in estate names) used more for euphony and connotation than for geomorphic denotation. Word formation in English using the suffix to name towns and family estates was most productive in the mid-19th through mid-20th centuries.


-dynia

Alternative form of -odynia (when the preceding morpheme has a terminal vowel)


-mastia

From Ancient Greek μαστός (mastós, “breast”).

macromastia

polymastia


-ety

Apparently an alteration of -edy, as seen in jaggedy, raggedy, etc.; equivalent to -ed + -y. The alteration of -d- to -t- is perhaps due to Scottish influence, where it is common for the past participle of Scots verbs to end in -et/-it rather than -ed as in English.
Alternatively, perhaps imitative of repeated action.

jig + -ety → jiggety

hip-hop + -ety → hippety-hoppety

yack + -ety → yackety-yak

Added to monosyllabic words, typically nouns or adjectives, to extend their form.

dig + -ety → diggety, hot diggety dog

lick + -ety → lickety, lickety-split


-ety

Cognate of -ity, ultimately from Latin -(i)tās. See more at -ity.

contrary + -ety → contrariety


-ploid

Back-formation from haploid and diploid. Equivalent to Ancient Greek -πλ(όος) (-pl(óos), “-fold”) + -oid.

der

(biology, genetics) Indicating the number of homologous sets of chromosomes in a cell.


-dactyl

From French -dactyle, from Latin -dactylus, ultimately from Ancient Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger”).


-cross

(sports) Forms the names of sports that involve racing across an artificial cross-country course of bumps, jumps, drop-offs, troughs, curves, and such.


-sona

Shortened form of persona. Likely originated in the furry community with fursona. See also sona.

cup + -sona → cupsona

gem + -sona → gemsona

object + -sona → objectsona

(fandom slang) Added to a noun to describe a character of the noun's form, typically one used to represent oneself in fandom spaces.


-poo

Unknown, probably arbitrary or from poo.

This is my little dog, Pinky-Panky-Poo. Bark at the gentleman, Pinky-Panky-Poo.

1908 January 28, Hamilton Daily Republican News, page 8:

...they would scraich out ‘Inky poo, your nose is blue, You're awful like the Turra Coo!’ whenever they saw Ellison go by.

1932, James Mitchell, Sunset Song, page 21:

As Elisha passes her on his way to the microphone she does her boa-constrictor number, big huggypoo, big kissypoo. Once past Pammypoo, Elisha makes a speech.

2002, William Kennedy, Roscoe, page 241:

Added to nouns, especially personal names, ending in -y or -ie to form affectionate, playful diminutives.


-poo

Used for constructing a breed name of designer dogs one of whose parents is a poodle.


-zoon

From Latin -zoon, from Ancient Greek ζῷον (zôion, “animal”).

(zoology) Forming nouns indicating individual members of taxonomic groups whose names end in -zoa.

(zoology) Forming nouns indicating organisms have a particular specified way of life.


-misia

From Ancient Greek μῖσος (mîsos, “hatred”) or μῑσέω (mīséō, “to hate”) (+ -ia); attested since at least the 1950s. Devised as an alternative to the suffix -phobia, which etymologically (and clinically) denotes fear, though it is also widely used in English to denote hatred. Compare -misic (hating something), as in homomisic.


-vir

carbovir

(pharmacology) Used to form names of generic antivirals.


-vudine

lamivudine, stavudine, telbivudine

(pharmacology) Used to form names of antineoplastics and antivirals of the zidovudine type


-azepam

(pharmacology) Used to form names of diazepam derivatives.


-azodone

(organic chemistry, pharmacology) Used to form names of generic antidepressant drugs.


-azosin

(pharmacology) Used to form names of prazosin derivatives used as antihypertensive substances.


-afil

w:cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5

(pharmacology) Used to form names of inhibitors of phosphodiesterase PDE5 with vasodilator action.


-asone

betamethasone, dexamethasone, diflorasone, fluticasone, mometasone

(biochemistry, pharmacology) Used to form names of generic corticosteroid drugs.


-rubicin

doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, valrubicin

(pharmacology) Used to form names of daunorubicin derivatives used as antineoplastics.


-bital

butalbital, vinylbital

(pharmacology) Used to form generic names of barbiturate drugs.


-cillin

amoxicillin, ampicillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin

(pharmacology) Used to form names of generic penicillin antibiotic drugs.


-cycline

demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline

(pharmacology) Used to form names of generic tetracycline antibiotic drugs.


-dazole

albendazole, mebendazole, metronidazole, tinidazole

(pharmacology) Used to form names of generic anthelmintic or antibiotic drugs.


-dipine

calcium channel blocker
calcium channel blocker#English

(pharmacology) Used to form names of generic calcium channel blocker drugs which are nifedipine derivatives.


-dronate

alendronate, etidronate, ibandronate, risedronate

(pharmacology) Used to form nonproprietary names for bisphosphonate drugs.


-prazole

(pharmacology) Used to form names of benzimidazole derivatives used as antiulcers.


-fenac

bromfenac, diclofenac, nepafenac

(pharmacology) Used to form names of ibufenac derivatives used as generic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


-floxacin

besifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin

(pharmacology) Used to form names of generic fluoroquinolone antibiotics


-gliptin

From gli- (“antihyperglycemic”) + (pe)pt(idase) + in(hibitor).

af

saxagliptin, sitagliptin, linagliptin

dipeptidyl peptidase-4
w:dipeptidyl peptidase-4

(pharmacology) Used to form generic names of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor antidiabetic drugs.


-eroo

Of unclear origin; perhaps extracted from buckaroo, though this word appears to have been conformed to a preexisting suffix (or word), the stress and final vowel being otherwise unaccounted for.

smack + -eroo → smackeroo

I'm feeling peckish … I think I'll have a little snackeroo.

(informal) Added to certain nouns to form familiar diminutives, normally with jocular or light-hearted intent.


-chorous

(biology, botany) Spread, or (especially) having seeds which are dispersed, by (some specified animal, etc)


-wash

Back-formation from whitewash. Second sense popularised by greenwash.

At present, successive coats of yellowwash fill up the rich decoration of this doorway, so that its beauty is not brought out to the eye of the unpractised visitor.

1848, Joshua Fawcett, Church rides in the neighbourhood of Scarborough, Yorkshire, page 22:

The natives dig clay from both places, in order to paint or rather redwash the walls of their huts.

1930, Francis Hamilton, Journal of Francis Buchanan Kept During the Survey of the District of Bhagalpur in 1810-1811:

The only touch of color was provided by a small copy Leonardo's Last Supper and three crudely painted windows, executed in a kind of bluewash and orangewash, over the altar.

2021, Roger H. Guichard, Middle East Tapestry, Wipf and Stock Publishers, →ISBN, page 266:

To coat with, or a coating of, paint of the colour specified.

They are likely to remain small and relatively marginalized niche markets, even as some of their rhetoric is appropriated by the TNCs for use as marketing gimmicks and bluewash.

2004, John M. Talbot, Grounds for Agreement: The Political Economy of the Coffee Commodity Chain, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, →ISBN, page 210:

In embracing and promoting their collaborations with WWF, these companies are being encouraged to greenwash their brands with the WWF logo.

2012, Guy Pearse, Greenwash: Big Brands and Carbon Scams, Black Inc., →ISBN:

One might argue that more is at stake than hiring multiracial, female, and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) employees to rainbowwash corporate agendas.

2014, Bruce Burgett, Glenn Hendler, Keywords for American Cultural Studies, Second Edition, NYU Press, →ISBN:

Spade suggests here, in the same breath, both that the Obama administration uses its "declarations of gay rights" to pinkwash and that its support for gay rights is "used as a rationale for domestic and international regimes of racialized violence and warfare."

2018, Cyril Ghosh, De-Moralizing Gay Rights: Some Queer Remarks on LGBT+ Rights Politics in the US, Springer, →ISBN, page 20:

To focus on, or an act of focussing on, a supposedly positive aspect of an organisation in order to distract from or downplay negative perceptions.

A Maroonwash will be two-thirds complete on a fast track at Suncorp.

2016 June 21, Andrew Webster, Roy Masters, Steve Mascord, Phil Lutton, Brad Walter, with Barrett, Chris, Pengilly, Adam, Proszenko, Adrian, and Chammas, Michael, “State of Origin 2016: Who the experts are tipping in game two”, in The Sydney Morning Herald:

So many were delighted when he was unceremoniously turfed from office in the 2015 redwash, with his USDP losing every single seat in the region.

2017 December 28, “Myanmar's newsmakers of 2017”, in Frontier Myanmar:

To achieve a bluewash for the first time in a thousand years? Quite the incentive for Brad Fittler’s Baby Blues.

2018 July 11, Dan Liebke, “The Liebke Ratings: State of Origin 3”, in The Roar:

(informal) An overwhelming victory by a team or entity of the colour specified; often a clean sweep.


-cc

The exact origin of this suffix is unknown. Currently, it is used to bypass profanity filters, by the Crips street gang in the United States to avoid writing "ck" (as "ck" could stand for "Crip Killer"), emphasise the "k" sound, and sexualize certain words (e.g. thicc, the most popular word with this modification, or succ).

I'm actually about to fail out of school not because it's too hard but because I just don't give a fricc

2016 October 13, Kwequi Koolaidra (@kwesus), “Kwequi Koolaidra on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 2018-11-06:

Proving that thicc Rihanna is here to stay – and long may that continue – the Diamonds singer worked all those curves as she struck a power pose at the event.

2018 April 6, Emma Kelly, “Rihanna’s leather mini-dress at the Fenty Beauty launch is a lesson in slaying”, in Metro:

Being sicc in college is so trash😂 where my momma at😭

2018 October 31, ☃Nick Holmes⚡‼ (@TheNHolmes0), “☃Nick Holmes⚡‼ on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 2018-11-06:

(Internet slang, humorous) Used to replace "ck" at the end of a word or syllable. Does not alter the meaning (apart from making words jocular), nor the pronunciation.


-vac

(obsolete, marketing, science fiction, computing, mid-20th century) Used in the naming of computer systems and computer models, due to the use of vacuum tubes as the functional elements of computers of the time.

(marketing) Used in the naming of vacuum cleaner models.


-time

She is a four-time world champion.

Suffix used to indicate how many times something has occurred.

-szoros

suffix used to indicate how many times something has occurred


-amidine

(organic chemistry) Denotes a chemical compound containing an amidine functional group.


-hour-old

Suffix used to indicate the age of something or someone, in terms of hours.

-гадзінны

suffix used to indicate the age of something or someone, in terms of hours


-neme

(biochemistry) Alternative form of -nema


-lyte

Borrowed from Ancient Greek λυτός (lutós, “loosed”), verbal adjective of λύειν (lúein, “to unfasten, loose, loosen, untie”).

Word-forming element used in making nouns corresponding to nouns in -lysis and adjectives in -lytic.


-cast

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-der.?
Proto-Germanic *braidaz
Proto-West Germanic *braid
Old English brād
Middle English brood
English broad
Proto-Germanic *kas-
Proto-Germanic *kastōną
Old Norse kastabor.
Middle English casten
English cast
English broadcast
English -cast
Back-formation from broadcast.

etymon

Forming words for audiovisual content distributed to an audience, usually in a manner denoted by the word stem.


-lagnia

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek λαγνεία (lagneía, “sexual intercourse; lasciviousness”).


-esis

Used to form nouns denoting condition, action, or process.


-rific

Used to form intensified adjectives from nouns and adjectives.


-toin

(pharmacology) Used to form names of hydantoin derivatives used as antiepileptics.


-physis

From Ancient Greek φύσις (phúsis, “growth, I bring forth”).


-cel

A clipping derived from incel. A highly-productive suffix; compare the more offensive -fag, which may have partly inspired it. First attested in c. late 2010s.
Possibly influenced by honorific Japanese suffixes associated with anime and manga culture (as with 4chan suffix above), like -kun, -chan, etc.

curry + -cel → currycel (“an Indian incel”)

rice + -cel → ricecel (“an Asian incel”)

gym + -cel → gymcel (“an incel who works out”)

(incel slang) Denoting a type of incel (often through a stereotype).

word + -cel → wordcel (“someone with high writing skills and verbal intelligence”)

theory + -cel → theorycel (“someone interested in extremely academic and abstract ideas”)

we're in our deep sleep arcs, we're such snoozepilled napcels.

2022 November 22, @EverydayWarren, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-09-29:

I'm a full ceramicpilled coffeecel, going tiny mug mode rn

2022 December 5, u/BaronDornier, “My mom asked me if I wanted some coffee and I said yes and she served me these tiny tiny cottagecore japanese cup that I don't know how to hold”, in Reddit, r/redscarepod, archived from the original on 2023-09-29:

I'm such a sandwichmaxxing lunchmoder. I'm a foodpilled hungrycel.

2023 May 8, @Freyjihad, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-09-29:

shushmaxxed secretcel

2023 June 28, u/Ok_Capital_2927, “everyone needs to shut the fuck up when they find something useful or cool”, in Reddit, r/redscarepod, archived from the original on 2023-09-29:

(Internet slang, loosely, ironic) Used tongue-in-cheek for a wide range of effects unrelated to romance.


-rds

2/3rds say debates mattered.

Marks ordinals written in digits when the final term of the spelled number is "thirds"


-phagic

From Ancient Greek -φαγία (-phagía), combining form of φαγεῖν (phageîn, “to eat”), infinitive aorist of ἐσθίω (esthíō, “I eat”).

Used to form adjectives from prefixes, to denote diet types


-uide

methylsilanuide, tetramethylboranuide.

An anion formally derived by adding a hydride ion to a parent hydride.


-topy

A suffix meaning place, position, or localized.