-ation
-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 alliter ate - ation, narr ate - ation; many are derived through the French; as alter ation, visit ation; and many are formed on verbs ending in the Greek formative - ize (Fr. - ise); as civiliz ation, demoraliz ation.

-blast . [Gr. sprout, shoot.] A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in biological terms, and signifying growth, formation; as bio blast, epi blast, meso blast, etc.

-derm [See Derm, n. ] A suffix or terminal formative, much used in anatomical terms, and signifying skin, integument, covering; as blasto derm, ecto derm, etc.

-dom . A suffix denoting: (a) Jurisdiction or property and jurisdiction, dominion, as in king dom earl dom. (b) State, condition, or quality of being, as in wis dom, free dom. 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 pigment ed; talent ed.

-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 assign ee, don ee, alien ee, grant ee, etc. It is correlative to -or, the agent or doer. { Eek, Eeke }, v. t. See Eke. [Obs.] Spenser.

-en.
1. A suffix from AS. - a. , formerly used to form the plural of many nouns, as in ash en, ey en, ox en, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as childr en and brethr en, 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 hous en, escap en.
3. A suffix signifying to make, to cause, used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives; as in strength en, quick en, fright en. This must not be confused with - en corresponding in Old English to the AS. infinitive ending - a. .
4. [AS. -en; akin to Goth. -eins, L. -inus, Gr. .] An adjectival suffix, meaning made of; as in gold en, lead en, wood en.
5. [AS. -en; akin to Skr. -na.] The termination of the past participle of many strong verbs; as in brok en, gott en, trodd en.

-ence [F. -ence, L. -entia.] A noun suffix signifying action, state, or quality; also that which relates to the action or state; as in emerg ence, diffid ence, dilig ence, influ ence, differ ence, excell ence. See - ance.

-ency
-en•cy [L. -entia.] A noun suffix having much the same meaning as - ence, but more commonly signifying the quality or state; as emerg ency, effici ency. 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 corrod ent, excell ent, emerg ent, contin ent, quiesc ent. 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 hat er, farm er, heat er, grat er. At the end of names of places, -er signifies a man of the place; as London er, 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 warm er, soon er, lat(e) er, earl(y)i er.

-escent
-es´cent [From the ending -escens, - entis, of the p. pr. of inchoative verbs in Latin.] A suffix signifying beginning, beginning to be; as adol escent, efferv escent, 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 arab esque, after the manner of the Arabs.

-ess [OF. -esse, LL. -issa, Gr. .] A suffix used to form feminine nouns; as actr ess, deacon ess, songstr ess.

-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 smooth est; earl(y)i est.

-et [F. -et, masc., -ette, fem. Cf. -let.] A noun suffix with a diminutive force; as in baron et, pock et, fac et, flower et, latch et.

-ferous
-fer•ous [L. -fer. fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.] A suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as auri ferous, yielding gold; chyli ferous, producing chyle.

-form (-fôrm). [See Form, n. ] A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling, etc.; as vali form; ovi form.

-ful [See Full, a. ] A suffix signifying full of, abounding with; as boast ful, harm ful, woe ful.

-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 aceti fy, ampli fy, dandi fy, Frenchi fy, 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 amphi gen, amido gen, halo gen.
2. A suffix meaning produced, generated; as exo gen.

-genous
-ge•nous. [ -gen + -ous.] A suffix signifying producing, yielding; as alkali genous; endo genous.

-gerous
-ger•ous [L. -ger, fr. gerere to bear, carry. See Jest.] A suffix signifying bearing, producing; as calci gerous; denti gerous.

-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 auto graph, crysto graph, tele graph, photo graph. { Graph´ic (graf"ik), Graph´ic•al (-i•k al) }, 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.>

-graphy
-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 man hood, child hood, knight hood, brother hood. Sometimes it is written, chiefly in obsolete words, in the form - head.

-ible
-i•ble See -able.

-ic [L. -icus, Gr. : cf. F. -ique.]
1. A suffix signifying, in general, relating to, or characteristic of; as histor ic, hygien ic, telegraph ic, 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 ferr ic, sulphur ic. It is also used in the general sense of pertaining to; as hydr ic, sod ic, calc ic.

-ics A suffix used in forming the names of certain sciences, systems, etc., as acoust ics, mathemat ics, dynam ics, statist ics, polit ics, athlet ics. 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 ox ide, sulph ide, chlor ide. (b) A compound which is an anhydride; as glycol ide, phthal ide. (c) Any one of a series of derivatives; as indogen ide, glucos ide, 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 quin ine, morph ine, guanid ine, etc. All indifferent and neutral substances, as proteids, glycerides, glucosides, etc., should commonly be spelled with -in; as gelat in, amygdal in, etc. This rue has no application to those numerous commercial or popular names with the termination -ine; as gasol ine, vasel ine, 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.

-ing
1. [For OE. -and, - end, -ind, AS. -ende; akin to Goth. -and-, L. -ant-, -ent-, Gr. .] A suffix used to from present participles; as sing ing, play ing.
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 rid ing, dy ing, feel ing. It has also a secondary collective force; as shipp ing, cloth ing. 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 lord ing, farth ing.

-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 revolut ion, the act or process of revolving; construct ion, the act or process of constructing; a thing constructed; domin ion, territory ruled over; subject ion, state of being subject; deject ion; abstract ion.

-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 self ish, boy ish, brut ish; whit ish, 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 abol ish, cher ish, fin ish, furn ish, garn ish, impover ish.

-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 bapt ism, galvan ism, organ ism, hypnot ism, social ism, sensual ism, Anglic ism.

-ist [Gr. : cf. F. -iste.] A noun suffix denoting an agent, or doer, one who practices, a believer in; as theor ist, one who theorizes; social ist, one who holds to socialism; sensual ist, 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 Miller ite; a Bentham ite.
2. A suffix used in naming minerals; as chlor ite, from its characteristic green color; bar ite, from its heaviness; graph ite, from its use in writing.
3. (Chem.) A suffix used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end in -ous; as sulph ite, from sulphur ous; nitr ite, from nitr ous acid, etc.

-itis
-i´tis, [Gr., orig, fem. adjective suffix.] A suffix used in medical terms to denote an inflammatory disease of; as arthr itis; bronch itis, phren itis.

-ive [L. -ivus.] An adjective suffix signifying relating or belonging to, of the nature of, tending to; as affirmat ive, act ive, conclus ive, correct ive, diminut ive.

-ize [F. -iser, L. -izare, Gr. .] A verb suffix signifying to make, to do, to practice; as apolog ize, bapt ize, theor ize, tyrann ize. In the case of certain words the spelling with - ise (after analogy with F. -iser) is the usual form; as catech ise, critic ise. 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 mani kin; lamb kin.

-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 wit less, child less, father less.

-let (-let). [From two French dim. endings - el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in brace let.] A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in stream let, wave let, arm let.

-ling (-ling). [AS. -ling.] A noun suffix, commonly having a diminutive or a depreciatory force; as in duck ling, gos ling, hire ling, foster ling, first ling, under ling.

-ling. An adverbial suffix; as dark ling, flat ling.

-lite (-lit). See -lith.

-logy
-lo•gy [Gr., fr. lo•gos word, discourse, fr. to speak. See Logic.] A combining form denoting a discourse, treatise, doctrine, theory, science; as theo logy, geo logy, bio logy, minera logy.

-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.

-mancy
-man•cy [Gr. divination: cf. F. -mancie.] A combining form denoting divination; as aleuro mancy, chiro mancy, necro mancy, 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 ali ment, that which nourishes, orna ment, incre ment; frag ment, piece broken, seg ment; abridg ment, act of abridging, imprison ment, move ment, adjourn ment; amaze ment, state of being amazed, astonish ment.

-mere [Gr. part.] A combining form meaning part, portion; as blasto mere, epi mere.

-meter
-me´ter [L. metrum measure, or the allied Gr. . See Meter rhythm.] A suffix denoting that by which anything is measured; as baro meter, chrono meter, dynamo meter.

-metry
-me•try [See -meter.] A suffix denoting the art, process, or science, of measuring; as acidi metry, chloro metry, chrono metry.

-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 sixteen mo or 16 mo; eighteen mo or 18 mo. 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.

-morphous
-mor´phous [Gr. form.] A combining form denoting form, shape; as iso morphous.

-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 good ness, great ness.

-ock [AS. -uc.] A suffix used to form diminutives; as bull ock, hill ock.

-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 anthrop oid, aster oid, spher oid.

-ol [From alcoh ol.] (Chem.) A suffix denoting that the substance in the name of which it appears belongs to the series of alcohols or hydroxyl derivatives, as carbin ol, glycer ol, etc.

-oma
-o´ma [Gr., .] A suffix used in medical terms to denote a morbid condition of some part, usually some kind of tumor; as in fibr oma, glauc oma.

-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 acet one.

-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 non one.

-or. [L. -or: cf. OF. -or, -ur, - our, F. -eur.]
1. A noun suffix denoting an act; a state or quality; as in err or, ferv or, pall or, cand or, etc.
2. A noun suffix denoting an agent or doer; as in audit or, one who hears; don or, one who gives; oblig or, elevat or. It is correlative to - ee. In general -or is appended to words of Latin, and - er to those of English, origin. See -er.

-ory
-o•ry [L. -orius: cf. F. -oire.]
1. An adjective suffix meaning of or pertaining to, serving for; as in audit ory, pertaining to or serving for hearing; prohibit ory, amendat ory, etc.
2. [L. -orium: cf. F. -oire.] A noun suffix denoting that which pertains to, or serves for; as in ambulat ory, that which serves for walking; consist ory, fact ory, 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 verb ose, full of words; pil ose, hairy; glob ose, 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 cellul ose, sucr ose, dextr ose, 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 graci ous, abounding in grace; ardu ous, full of ardor; bulb ous, having bulbs, bulblike; riot ous, poison ous, pite ous, joy ous, 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 nitr ous, sulphur ous, etc., as contrasted with nitr ic, sulphur ic, etc.

-plastic
-plas´tic (-plas"tik). [Gr. fit for molding, plastic, fr. to mold, to form.] A combining form signifying developing, forming, growing; as hetero plastic, mono plastic, poly plastic.

-plasty
-plas´ty [Gr. to mold, form.] A combining form denoting the act or process of forming, development, growth; as auto plasty, perineo plasty.

-pod [See Foot.] A combining form or suffix from Gr. poy•s, podo•s, foot; as deca pod, an animal having ten feet; phyllo pod, an animal having leaflike feet; myria pod, hexa pod.

-poda
-po•da A New Latin plural combining form or suffix from Gr.,, foot; as hexa poda, myria poda. See -pod.

-ric [AS rice kingdom, dominion. See Rich.] A suffix signifying dominion, jurisdiction; as bishop ric, the district over which a bishop exercises authority.

-s.
1. [OE. es, AS. a. .] The suffix used to form the plural of most words; as in road s, elf s, side s, account s.
2. [OE. -s, for older -th, AS. - ð.] The suffix used to form the third person singular indicative of English verbs; as in fall s, tell s, send s.
3. An adverbial suffix; as in toward s, need s, alway s, — 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 micro scope, tele scope, alto scope, anemo scope.

-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 lord ship, friend ship, chancellor ship, steward ship, horseman ship.

-some (-som). A combining form or suffix from Gr. sw^ma (gen. sw•matos) the body; as in mero some, a body segment; cephalo some, etc.

-some (-sum). [AS. -sum; akin to G. & OHG. -sam, Icel. samr, Goth. lustu sams 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 mettle some, full of mettle or spirit; glad some, full of gladness; win some, blithe some, 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 spin ster (originally, a woman who spins), song ster, ba xter (= bake ster), young ster. 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 stereo type photo type, ferro type, mono type.

-uret
-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 end ways or end wise; no ways or no wise, etc.

-yl [Gr. wood, material.] (Chem.) A suffix used as a characteristic termination of chemical radicals; as in eth yl, carbon yl, hydrox yl, 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.