pushy
UK[ˈpʊʃi]US[ˈpʊʃi]
adj
Behaving in an unpleasant way by trying too much to get something or to make someone do something.
Morpheme Breakdown
push
y
push
to exert force
y
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
The adjective 'pushy' is a modern English formation, emerging in the early 20th century. It is built upon the verb 'push,' which entered English via Old French from the Latin verb pellere, meaning "to drive or thrust." The suffix '-y,' of Old English origin, is commonly used to create adjectives implying a quality or tendency. Therefore, the literal construction "characterized by pushing" evolved from the physical act of applying force to the abstract social behavior of being assertively or aggressively forceful in pursuing one's aims.
Analysis
Structure: push (to exert force) + y (adjective-forming suffix)
- push: From Middle English pusshen, pushen, likely from Old French poulser, pousser (to push, thrust), from Latin pulsare (to beat, strike, push), frequentative of pellere (to drive, push). In this word, it provides the core sense of forceful action.
- y: A native English suffix (from Old English -ig) used to form adjectives from nouns or verbs, meaning "characterized by" or "inclined to."
Examples
She was too pushy and kept interrupting the meeting to promote her idea.
I don't like salespeople who are overly pushy.
His pushy attitude often puts off his colleagues.