greasy
UK[ˈɡriːsi]US[ˈɡriːsi]
adj
Covered with or resembling grease; oily or slippery.
adj
Containing or cooked with an excessive amount of fat or oil.
adj
(Informal) Unpleasantly or insincerely flattering or ingratiating.
Morpheme Breakdown
grease
y
grease
fat
y
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'greasy' is a straightforward English formation. Its core, 'grease,' entered Middle English from Old French, which itself evolved from the Latin crassus, a term meaning thick, solid, or fat, describing a physical property. The addition of the productive adjectival suffix '-y' directly transforms the noun into a descriptive term. Thus, the literal meaning "full of or characterized by grease" logically extends to describe surfaces that are oily or slippery, food that is excessively fatty, and, metaphorically, behavior that feels unpleasantly slick or insincere.
Analysis
Structure: grease (fat) + y (adjective-forming suffix)
- grease: From Old French graisse, greisse, meaning "fat, grease," from Latin crassia (fatty part), from crassus (thick, solid, fat).
- y: A native English suffix forming adjectives meaning "characterized by, full of, or having the quality of."
Examples
He wiped his greasy hands on a rag.
The pizza was delicious but too greasy.
She was put off by the salesman's greasy manner.