’Em An obsolete or colloquial contraction of the old form hem, them. Addison.
’Gainst , prep. A contraction of Against.
’Mongst , prep. See Amongst.
’Neath (? or ), prep. & adv. An abbreviation of Beneath. [Poetic]
’s. A contraction for is or (colloquially) for has. ´My heart’s subdued.´ Shak.
-’s [OE. -es, AS. -es.] The suffix used to form the possessive singular of nouns; as boy’s; man’s.
’Sblood , interj. An abbreviation of God’s blood; — used as an oath. [Obs.] Shak.
’Sdeath , interj. [Corrupted fr. God’s death.] An exclamation expressive of impatience or anger. Shak.
’Snails , interj. God’s nails, or His nails, that is, the nails with which the Savior was fastened to the cross; — an ancient form of oath, corresponding to ’Od’s bodikins (dim. of body, i.e., God’s dear body). Beau. & Fl.
’Swounds , interj. [Cf. Zounds.] An exclamation contracted from God’s wounds; — used as an oath. [Obs. or Archaic] Shak.
’Twixt An abbreviation of Betwixt, used in poetry, or in colloquial language.
-a•ble (-a•b’l). [F. -able, L. -abilis.] An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable, fit to be blamed; salable. The form -ible is used in the same sense. It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of -ible. ´Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex -able only.´ Fitzed. Hall.
-a•bly. A suffix composed of -able and the adverbial suffix -ly; as favorably.
-a´na . [The neut. pl. ending of Latin adjectives in - anus.] A suffix to names of persons or places, used to denote a collection of notable sayings, literary gossip, anecdotes, etc. Thus, Scaligerana is a book containing the sayings of Scaliger, Johnsoniana of Johnson, etc. Used also as a substantive; as the French anas. “It has been said that the table-talk of Selden is worth all the ana of the Continent.
Hallam.”
-ance. [F. -ance, fr. L. -antia and also fr. - entia.] A suffix signifying action; also quality or state; as assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy. All recently adopted words of this class take either -ance or -ence, according to the Latin spelling.
-an•cy. [L. -antia.] A suffix expressing more strongly than -ance the idea of quality or state; as constancy, buoyancy, infancy.
-ant. [F. -ant, fr. L. -antem or -entem, the pr. p. ending; also sometimes directly from L. -antem.] A suffix sometimes marking the agent for action; as merchant, covenant, servant, pleasant, etc. Cf. - ent.
-arch . [Gr. ’archo•s chief, commander, ’a•rchein to rule. See Arch, a.] A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
-ard , -art. The termination of many English words; as coward, reynard, drunkard, mostly from the French, in which language this ending is of German origin, being orig. the same word as English hard. It usually has the sense of one who has to a high or excessive degree the quality expressed by the root; as braggart, sluggard.
-ate . [From the L. suffix -atus, the past participle ending of verbs of the 1st conj.] 1. As an ending of participles or participial adjectives it is equivalent to - ed; as situate or situated; animate or animated. 2. As the ending of a verb, it means to make, to cause, to act, etc.; as to propitiate (to make propitious); to animate (to give life to). 3. As a noun suffix, it marks the agent; as curate, delegate. It also sometimes marks the office or dignity; as tribunate. 4. In chemistry it is used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end -ic (excepting binary or halogen acids); as sulphate from sulphuric acid, nitrate from nitric acid, etc. It is also used in the case of certain basic salts.
-a´tion . [L. -ationem. See -tion.] A suffix forming nouns of action, and often equivalent to the verbal substantive in -ing. It sometimes has the further meanings of state, and that which results from the action. Many of these nouns have verbs in -ate; as alliterate -ation, narrate -ation; many are derived through the French; as alteration, visitation; and many are formed on verbs ending in the Greek formative -ize (Fr. -ise); as civilization, demoralization.
-blast . [Gr. sprout, shoot.] A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in biological terms, and signifying growth, formation; as bioblast, epiblast, mesoblast, etc.
-derm [See Derm, n.] A suffix or terminal formative, much used in anatomical terms, and signifying skin, integument, covering; as blastoderm, ectoderm, etc.
-dom . A suffix denoting: (a)Jurisdiction or property and jurisdiction, dominion, as in kingdom earldom. (b)State, condition, or quality of being, as in wisdom, freedom. It is from the same root as doom meaning authority and judgment. . See Doom.
-ed The termination of the past participle of regular, or weak, verbs; also of analogous participial adjectives from nouns; as pigmented; talented.
-ee [Formed on the F. p. p. ending -e, masc.] A suffix used, chiefly in law terms, in a passive signification, to indicate the direct or indirect object of an action, or the one to whom an act is done or on whom a right is conferred; as in assignee, donee, alienee, grantee, etc. It is correlative to -or, the agent or doer. { Eek , Eeke }, v. t. See Eke. [Obs.] Spenser.
-en. 1. A suffix from AS. - an, formerly used to form the plural of many nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural forms. 2. A suffix corresponding to AS. -en and -on, formerly used to form the plural of verbs, as in housen, escapen. 3. A suffix signifying to make, to cause, used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives; as in strengthen, quicken, frighten. This must not be confused with -en corresponding in Old English to the AS. infinitive ending -an. 4. [AS. -en; akin to Goth. -eins, L. -inus, Gr. .] An adjectival suffix, meaning made of; as in golden, leaden, wooden. 5. [AS. -en; akin to Skr. -na.] The termination of the past participle of many strong verbs; as in broken, gotten, trodden.
-ence [F. -ence, L. -entia.] A noun suffix signifying action, state, or quality; also that which relates to the action or state; as in emergence, diffidence, diligence, influence, difference, excellence. See - ance.
-en•cy [L. -entia.] A noun suffix having much the same meaning as -ence, but more commonly signifying the quality or state; as emergency, efficiency. See -ancy. { En•cyc´lic , En•cyc´li•cal } a. [L. encyclios of a circle, general, Gr. ; in + circle: cf. F. encyclique. See Cycle.] Sent to many persons or places; intended for many, or for a whole order of men; general; circular; as an encyclical letter of a council, of a bishop, or the pope. { En•cyc´lic , En•cyc´li•cal } n. An encyclical letter, esp. one from a pope. Shipley. { En•cy•clo•pe´di•a , En•cy•clo•pae´di•a } , n. [NL., fr. Gr. , for , instruction in the circle of arts and sciences: cf. F. encyclopedie. See Cyclopedia, and Encyclical.] [Formerly written encyclopaedy and encyclopedy.] The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge; esp., a work in which the various branches of science or art are discussed separately, and usually in alphabetical order; a cyclopedia.
-ent [F. -ent, L. -ens, - entis.] An adjective suffix signifying action or being; as corrodent, excellent, emergent, continent, quiescent. See - ant.
-er . 1. [AS. -ere; akin to L. -arius.] The termination of many English words, denoting the agent; — applied either to men or things; as in hater, farmer, heater, grater. At the end of names of places, -er signifies a man of the place; as Londoner, i. e., London man. 2. [AS. -ra; akin to G. -er, Icel. -are, -re, Goth. -iza, -za, L. - ior, Gr. , Skr. -iyas.] A suffix used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; as warmer, sooner, lat(e)er, earl(y)ier.
-es´cent [From the ending -escens, - entis, of the p. pr. of inchoative verbs in Latin.] A suffix signifying beginning, beginning to be; as adolescent, effervescent, etc.
-esque [F., fr. It. -isco. Cf. -ish.] A suffix of certain words from the French, Italian, and Spanish. It denotes manner or style; like; as arabesque, after the manner of the Arabs.
-ess [OF. -esse, LL. -issa, Gr. .] A suffix used to form feminine nouns; as actress, deaconess, songstress.
-est (-est). [AS. -ost, -est; akin to G. -est, -ist, Icel. -astr, -str, Goth. -ists, -osts, Skr. -ishtha.] A suffix used to form the superlative of adjectives and adverbs; as smoothest; earl(y)iest.
-et [F. -et, masc., -ette, fem. Cf. -let.] A noun suffix with a diminutive force; as in baronet, pocket, facet, floweret, latchet.
-fer•ous [L. -fer. fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.] A suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as auriferous, yielding gold; chyliferous, producing chyle.
-form (-fôrm). [See Form, n.] A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling, etc.; as valiform; oviform.
-ful [See Full, a.] A suffix signifying full of, abounding with; as boastful, harmful, woeful.
-fy [Through French verbs in -fier, L. - ficare, akin to facere to do, make. See Fact.] A suffix signifying to make, to form into, etc.; as acetify, amplify, dandify, Frenchify, etc.
-gen [(1) From Gr. -gen-, from the same root as ge•nos race, stock (see Genus). (2) From Gr. suffix -genh•s born. Cf. F. -gène.] 1. A suffix used in scientific words in the sense of producing, generating: as amphigen, amidogen, halogen. 2. A suffix meaning produced, generated; as exogen.
-ge•nous. [-gen + -ous.] A suffix signifying producing, yielding; as alkaligenous; endogenous.
-ger•ous [L. -ger, fr. gerere to bear, carry. See Jest.] A suffix signifying bearing, producing; as calcigerous; dentigerous.
-gram [Gr. ? a thing drawn or written, a letter, fr. gra•fein to draw, write. See Graphic.] A suffix indicating something drawn or written, a drawing, writing; — as monogram, telegram, chronogram.
-graph (-graf) [From Gr. gra•fein to write. See Graphic.] A suffix signifying something written, a writing; also a writer; as autograph, crystograph, telegraph, photograph. { Graph´ic (graf´ik), Graph´ic•al (-i•kal) }, a. [L. graphicus, Gr. grafiko•s, fr. gra•fein to write; cf. F. graphique. See Graft.] 1. Of or pertaining to the arts of painting and drawing. 2. Of or pertaining to the art of writing. 3. Written or engraved; formed of letters or lines. “The finger of God hath left an inscription upon all his works, not graphical, or composed of letters.” Sir T. Browne.4. Well delineated; clearly and vividly described. 5. Having the faculty of, or characterized by, clear and impressive description; vivid; as a graphic writer. Graphic algebra, a branch of algebra in which, the properties of equations are treated by the use of curves and straight lines. — Graphic arts, a name given to those fine arts which pertain to the representation on a flat surface of natural objects; as distinguished from music, etc., and also from sculpture. — Graphic formula. (Chem.) See under Formula. — Graphic granite. See under Granite. — Graphic method, the method of scientific analysis or investigation, in which the relations or laws involved in tabular numbers are represented to the eye by means of curves or other figures; as the daily changes of weather by means of curves, the abscissas of which represent the hours of the day, and the ordinates the corresponding degrees of temperature. — Graphical statics(Math.), a branch of statics, in which the magnitude, direction, and position of forces are represented by straight lines — Graphic tellurium. See Sylvanite.>
-gra•phy [Gr. , fr. write. See Graphic.] A suffix denoting the art of writing or describing; also the writing or description itself; a treatise; as calligraphy, biography, geography.
-grave A final syllable signifying a ruler, as in landgrave, margrave. See Margrave.
-head (-hed), suffix. A variant of -hood.
-hood [OE. hod, had, hed, hede, etc., person, rank, order, condition, AS. had; akin to OS. hed, OHG. heit, G. -heit, D. -heid, Goth. haidus manner; cf. Skr. ketu brightness, cit to appear, be noticeable, notice. rad.217. Cf. -head.] A termination denoting state, condition, quality, character, totality, as in manhood, childhood, knighthood, brotherhood. Sometimes it is written, chiefly in obsolete words, in the form -head.
-i•ble See -able.
-ic [L. -icus, Gr. : cf. F. -ique.] 1. A suffix signifying, in general, relating to, or characteristic of; as historic, hygienic, telegraphic, etc. 2.(Chem.) A suffix, denoting that the element indicated enters into certain compounds with its highest valence, or with a valence relatively higher than in compounds where the name of the element ends in -ous; as ferric, sulphuric. It is also used in the general sense of pertaining to; as hydric, sodic, calcic.
-ics A suffix used in forming the names of certain sciences, systems, etc., as acoustics, mathematics, dynamics, statistics, politics, athletics. The names sciences ending in ics, as mathematics, mechanics, metaphysics, optics, etc., are, with respect to their form, nouns in the plural number. The plural form was probably introduced to mark the complex nature of such sciences; and it may have been in imitation of the use of the Greek plurals , , , , etc., to designate parts of Aristotle’s writings. Previously to the present century, nouns ending in ics were construed with a verb or a pronoun in the plural; but it is now generally considered preferable to treat them as singular. In Greman we have die Mathematik, die Mechanik, etc., and in French la metaphysique, la optique, etc., corresponding to our mathematics, mechanics, metaphysics, optics, etc. “Mathematics have for their object the consideration of whatever is capable of being numbered or measured.” John Davidson. The citations subjoined will serve as examples of the best present usage. “Ethics is the sciences of the laws which govern our actions as moral agents.” Sir W. Hamilton. “All parts of knowledge have their origin in metaphysics, and finally, perhaps, revolve into it.” De Quincey. “Mechanics, like pure mathematics, may be geometrical, or may be analytical; that is, it may treat space either by a direct consideration of its properties, or by a symbolical representation.” Whewell.
-ide(Chem.) A suffix used to denote: (a) The nonmetallic, or negative, element or radical in a binary compound; as oxide, sulphide, chloride. (b) A compound which is an anhydride; as glycolide, phthalide. (c) Any one of a series of derivatives; as indogenide, glucoside, etc.
-in. A suffix. See the Note under - ine.
-ine ( 104). 1.(Chem.) A suffix, indicating that those substances of whose names it is a part are basic, and alkaloidal in their nature. All organic bases, and basic substances (especially nitrogenous substances), are systematically written with the termination -ine; as quinine, morphine, guanidine, etc. All indifferent and neutral substances, as proteids, glycerides, glucosides, etc., should commonly be spelled with -in; as gelatin, amygdalin, etc. This rue has no application to those numerous commercial or popular names with the termination -ine; as gasoline, vaseline, etc. 2.(Organ. Chem.) A suffix, used to indicate hydrocarbons of the second degree of unsaturation; i. e., members of the acetyline series; as hexine, heptine, etc.
-ing1. [For OE. -and, - end, -ind, AS. -ende; akin to Goth. -and-, L. -ant-, -ent-, Gr. .] A suffix used to from present participles; as singing, playing. 2. [OE. -ing, AS. -ing, - ung.] A suffix used to form nouns from verbs, and signifying the act of; the result of the act; as riding, dying, feeling. It has also a secondary collective force; as shipping, clothing. The Old English ending of the present participle and verbal noun became confused, both becoming -ing. 3. [AS. -ing.] A suffix formerly used to form diminutives; as lording, farthing.
-ion ( 106). [L. -io, acc. -ionem: cf. F. -ion.] A noun suffix denoting act, process, result of an act or a process, thing acted upon, state, or condition; as revolution, the act or process of revolving; construction, the act or process of constructing; a thing constructed; dominion, territory ruled over; subjection, state of being subject; dejection; abstraction.
-ise See -ize.
-ish [AS. -isc; akin to G. -isch, OHG. -isc, Goth. & Dan. -isk, Gr. . Cf. -esque.] A suffix used to from adjectives from nouns and from adjectives. It denotes relation, resemblance, similarity, and sometimes has a diminutive force; as selfish, boyish, brutish; whitish, somewhat white.
-ish. [OE. -issen, fr. F. -is, -iss- (found in the present particle, etc., of certain verbs, as finir to finish, fleurir to flourish), corresponding to L. -escere, an inchoative ending.] A verb ending, originally appearing in certain verbs of French origin; as abolish, cherish, finish, furnish, garnish, impoverish.
-ism [F. -isme, or L. -ismus, Gr. .] A suffix indicating an act, a process, the result of an act or a process, a state; also a characteristic (as a theory, doctrine, idiom, etc.); as baptism, galvanism, organism, hypnotism, socialism, sensualism, Anglicism.
-ist [Gr. : cf. F. -iste.] A noun suffix denoting an agent, or doer, one who practices, a believer in; as theorist, one who theorizes; socialist, one who holds to socialism; sensualist, one given to sensuality.
-ite [From Gr. , .] 1. A suffix denoting one of a party, a sympathizer with or adherent of, and the like, and frequently used in ridicule; as a Millerite; a Benthamite. 2. A suffix used in naming minerals; as chlorite, from its characteristic green color; barite, from its heaviness; graphite, from its use in writing. 3.(Chem.) A suffix used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end in -ous; as sulphite, from sulphurous; nitrite, from nitrous acid, etc.
-i´tis , [Gr. , orig, fem. adjective suffix.] A suffix used in medical terms to denote an inflammatory disease of; as arthritis; bronchitis, phrenitis.
-ive [L. -ivus.] An adjective suffix signifying relating or belonging to, of the nature of, tending to; as affirmative, active, conclusive, corrective, diminutive.
-ize [F. -iser, L. -izare, Gr. .] A verb suffix signifying to make, to do, to practice; as apologize, baptize, theorize, tyrannize. In the case of certain words the spelling with -ise (after analogy with F. -iser) is the usual form; as catechise, criticise. With regard to most words, however, which have this suffix there is a diversity of usage, some authorities spelling -ise, others (as in this book) - ize.
-kin (-kin). [Of Low German origin; cf. G. - chen, LG. — ken.] A diminutive suffix; as manikin; lambkin.
-less (-les). [AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS. los loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. rad.127. See Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.] A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
-let (-let). [From two French dim. endings - el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in bracelet.] A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in streamlet, wavelet, armlet.
-ling (-ling). [AS. -ling.] A noun suffix, commonly having a diminutive or a depreciatory force; as in duckling, gosling, hireling, fosterling, firstling, underling.
-lite (-lit). See -lith.
-lo•gy [Gr. , fr. lo•gos word, discourse, fr. to speak. See Logic.] A combining form denoting a discourse, treatise, doctrine, theory, science; as theology, geology, biology, mineralogy.
-ly [OE. -lich, AS. -lic, orig. the same word as E. like, a. See Like, a.] A suffix forming adjectives and adverbs, and denoting likeness or resemblance.
-man•cy [Gr. divination: cf. F. -mancie.] A combining form denoting divination; as aleuromancy, chiromancy, necromancy, etc.
-ment , [F. -ment, L. -mentum.] A suffix denoting that which does a thing; an act or process; the result of an act or process; state or condition; as aliment, that which nourishes, ornament, increment; fragment, piece broken, segment; abridgment, act of abridging, imprisonment, movement, adjournment; amazement, state of being amazed, astonishment.
-mere [Gr. part.] A combining form meaning part, portion; as blastomere, epimere.
-me´ter [L. metrum measure, or the allied Gr. . See Meter rhythm.] A suffix denoting that by which anything is measured; as barometer, chronometer, dynamometer.
-me•try [See -meter.] A suffix denoting the art, process, or science, of measuring; as acidimetry, chlorometry, chronometry.
-mo A suffix added to the names of certain numerals or to the numerals themselves, to indicate the number of leaves made by folding a sheet of paper; as sixteenmo or 16mo; eighteenmo or 18mo. It is taken from the Latin forms similarly used; as duodecimo, sextodecimo, etc. A small circle, placed after the number and near its top, is often used for -mo; as 16°, 18°, etc.
-mor´phous [Gr. form.] A combining form denoting form, shape; as isomorphous.
-ness . [AS. -ness, -nyss, - nys; akin to OS. -nissi, nussi, D. -nis, OHG. -nissa, -nassi, -nussi, G. - nis, -niss, Goth. -inasus.] A suffix used to form abstract nouns expressive of quality or state; as goodness, greatness.
-ock [AS. -uc.] A suffix used to form diminutives; as bullock, hillock.
-oid (-oid). [Gr. , fr. e’i^dos form, akin to to see, and E. wit: cf.F. -oïde, L. - oïdes.] A suffix or combining form meaning like, resembling, in the form of; as in anthropoid, asteroid, spheroid.
-ol [From alcohol.] (Chem.) A suffix denoting that the substance in the name of which it appears belongs to the series of alcohols or hydroxyl derivatives, as carbinol, glycerol, etc.
-o´ma [Gr. , .] A suffix used in medical terms to denote a morbid condition of some part, usually some kind of tumor; as in fibroma, glaucoma.
-one [From Gr. -w•nh, signifying, female descendant.] (Chem.) A suffix indicating that the substance, in the name of which it appears, is a ketone; as acetone.
-one.(Chem.) A termination indicating that the hydrocarbon to the name of which it is affixed belongs to the fourth series of hydrocarbons, or the third series of unsaturated hydrocarbonsl as nonone.
-or. [L. -or: cf. OF. -or, -ur, - our, F. -eur.] 1. A noun suffix denoting an act; a state or quality; as in error, fervor, pallor, candor, etc. 2. A noun suffix denoting an agent or doer; as in auditor, one who hears; donor, one who gives; obligor, elevator. It is correlative to - ee. In general -or is appended to words of Latin, and - er to those of English, origin. See -er.
-o•ry [L. -orius: cf. F. -oire.] 1. An adjective suffix meaning of or pertaining to, serving for; as in auditory, pertaining to or serving for hearing; prohibitory, amendatory, etc. 2. [L. -orium: cf. F. -oire.] A noun suffix denoting that which pertains to, or serves for; as in ambulatory, that which serves for walking; consistory, factory, etc. { O´ry•al , O´ry•all }, n. See Oriel.
-ose [L. -osus: cf. F. -ose. Cf. - ous.] 1. A suffix denoting full of, containing, having the qualities of, like; as in verbose, full of words; pilose, hairy; globose, like a globe. 2.(Chem.) A suffix indicating that the substance to the name of which it is affixed is a member of the carbohydrate group; as in cellulose, sucrose, dextrose, etc.
-our [OF. -our.] See - or.
-ous [OF. -ous, us, -os, F. -eux, fr. L. -osus, and -us. Cf. -ose.] 1. An adjective suffix meaning full of, abounding in, having, possessing the qualities of, like; as in gracious, abounding in grace; arduous, full of ardor; bulbous, having bulbs, bulblike; riotous, poisonous, piteous, joyous, etc. 2.(Chem.) A suffix denoting that the element indicated by the name bearing it, has a valence lower than that denoted by the termination -ic; as nitrous, sulphurous, etc., as contrasted with nitric, sulphuric, etc.
-plas´tic (-plas´tik). [Gr. fit for molding, plastic, fr. to mold, to form.] A combining form signifying developing, forming, growing; as heteroplastic, monoplastic, polyplastic.
-plas´ty [Gr. to mold, form.] A combining form denoting the act or process of forming, development, growth; as autoplasty, perineoplasty.
-pod [See Foot.] A combining form or suffix from Gr. poy•s, podo•s, foot; as decapod, an animal having ten feet; phyllopod, an animal having leaflike feet; myriapod, hexapod.
-po•da A New Latin plural combining form or suffix from Gr. , , foot; as hexapoda, myriapoda. See -pod.
-ric [AS rice kingdom, dominion. See Rich.] A suffix signifying dominion, jurisdiction; as bishopric, the district over which a bishop exercises authority.
-s. 1. [OE. es, AS. as.] The suffix used to form the plural of most words; as in roads, elfs, sides, accounts. 2. [OE. -s, for older -th, AS. - ð.] The suffix used to form the third person singular indicative of English verbs; as in falls, tells, sends. 3. An adverbial suffix; as in towards, needs, always, — originally the genitive, possesive, ending. See -’s.
-scope . [Gr. skopo•s a watcher, spy. See Scope.] A combining form usually signifying an instrument for viewing (with the eye) or observing (in any way); as in microscope, telescope, altoscope, anemoscope.
-ship [OE. -schipe, AS. -scipe; akin to OFries. -skipe, OLG. -skepi, D. -schap, OHG. - scaf, G. -schaft. Cf. Shape, n., and Landscape.] A suffix denoting state, office, dignity, profession, or art; as in lordship, friendship, chancellorship, stewardship, horsemanship.
-some (-som). A combining form or suffix from Gr. sw^ma (gen. sw•matos) the body; as in merosome, a body segment; cephalosome, etc.
-some (-sum). [AS. -sum; akin to G. & OHG. -sam, Icel. samr, Goth. lustusams longed for. See Same, a., and cf. Some, a.] An adjective suffix having primarily the sense of like or same, and indicating a considerable degree of the thing or quality denoted in the first part of the compound; as in mettlesome, full of mettle or spirit; gladsome, full of gladness; winsome, blithesome, etc.
-ster [OE. & AS. -estre, -istre.] A suffix denoting the agent (originally a woman), especially a person who does something with skill or as an occupation; as in spinster (originally, a woman who spins), songster, baxter (= bakester), youngster. Brewing, baking, and weaving were formerly feminine labors, and consequently brewster, baxter, and webster meant, originally, the woman (not the man) who brews, bakes, or weaves. When men began to perform these duties the feminine appellations were retained.
-type [See Type, n.] A combining form signifying impressed form; stamp; print; type; typical form; representative; as in stereotype phototype, ferrotype, monotype.
-u•ret A suffix with the same meaning as -ide. See -ide. [Obs.]
-wards See -ward.
-ways A suffix formed from way by the addition of the adverbial -s (see -wards). It is often used interchangeably with wise; as endways or endwise; noways or nowise, etc.
-yl [Gr. wood, material.] (Chem.) A suffix used as a characteristic termination of chemical radicals; as in ethyl, carbonyl, hydroxyl, etc. -yl was first used in 1832 by Liebig and Wöhler in naming benzoyl, in the sense of stuff, or fundamental material, then in 1834 by Dumas and Peligot in naming methyl, in the sense of wood. After this - yl was generally used as in benzoyl, in the sense of stuff, characteristic ground, fundamental material.