Suffix & Prefix

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