Suffixes and Parts of Speech
Suffix Meaning Examples Function or
Characteristic Usage:
Notes in this column
refer to common
functions of these
suffixes. However, these
are generalizations only,
and you will find
exceptions to many of
them.
able, ible able, can do capable, agreeable, verb ®adjective
visible
ade result of action blockade, lemonade verb or noun ®noun
age act of, state of, salvage, storage, forage added to root words
collection of (often French) to form a
noun
al relating to sensual, gradual, verb or noun ®adjective
manual, natural
algia pain neuralgia noun
an, ian native of, pertaining to American, Martian, noun ®adjective
antediluvian
ance, ancy action, process, state assistance, allowance, verb ®noun
defiance
ant performing, agent assistant, servant verb ®noun
ary, ery, ory relating to, quality, place dictionary, bravery, noun or adjective
where dormitory, aviary,
ordinary adjective ®noun
adjective or noun
®noun
2
ate cause, make liquidate, segregate noun or adjective ®verb
cian having a specific skill magician, optician, noun
physician
cule, ling very small molecule, miniscule, noun or adjective
cy action, function advocacy, hesitancy, noun
prophecy, normalcy
dom quality, realm, office freedom, kingdom, noun
wisdom, thralldom
ee one who receives the employee, nominee, noun
action refugee
en made of, make silken, frozen, oaken, adjective or verb (ex:
wooden, lighten widen)
ence, ency action, state of, quality difference, conference, noun
urgency
er, or on who, that which baker, carpenter, brewer noun
escent in the process of adolescent, obsolescent, adjective or noun
convalescent
ese a native of Javanese, Vietnamese noun or adjective
esis, osis action, process, genesis, hypnosis, noun
condition neurosis, osmosis
ess female poetess, goddess noun
et, ette small one, group midget, octet, baronet, noun
fic making, causing scientific, specific adjective
3
ful full of frightful, beautiful, adjective
helpful
y make fortify, simplify verb
hood order, quality neighborhood, noun
motherhood
ic nature of, like metallic, heroic, poetic adjective
ice condition, state, quality justice, malice noun
id, ide something connected to fluid, fluoride, torrid, noun or adjective
or belonging to canid
ine having the nature or feminine, masculine, adjective or noun
characteristic of medicine
ion, sion, tion act of, state of, result of contagion, infection, noun
aversion
ish origin, nature, Spanish, foolish, noun ®adjective
resembling (however, often the
adjective is used as a
noun. ex: "The Spanish"
meaning the people of
Spain)
ism system, manner, alcoholism, feminism, noun
condition heroism, communism
ist one who, that which pianist, elitist noun
verb ®noun
ite nature of, quality of dynamite, graphite, noun or adjective
sulfite, neophyte
verb or adjective
®adjective or noun
4
ity, ty state of, quality captivity, clarity noun
ive causing conclusive, festive, adjective or nouns
restive, abusive derived from adjectives
ize to make (like) emphasize, verb
anthropomorphize
less without worthless, mindless, adjective
guileless
ly like clearly, fearlessly adverb
ment act of, result contentment, noun
amendment
verb ®noun
ness state of carelessness, uselessness adjective ®noun
oid like (often suggests asteroid, tabloid, noun or adjective
flawed or partial anthropoid, rhomboid, ®noun or adjective that
resemblance) ovoid is similar to or has the
qualities of the original
word
(o)logy study, science, theory biology noun
