suffix

UK[ˈsʌfɪks]US[ˈsʌfɪks]

A letter or group of letters added at the end of a word to make a new word, such as -ness, -ly, or -tion.

To add a letter or group of letters to the end of a word.

Morpheme Breakdown

suf

fix

suf

under, after

fix

fasten

Etymology

The word 'suffix' has a transparently logical construction. It originates from modern Latin 'suffixum', a noun derived from the past participle of 'suffigere', meaning 'to fasten underneath'. This Latin verb is itself a compound of 'sub-' ('under, after') and 'figere' ('to fasten, fix'). The morphemes perfectly capture the grammatical concept: a suffix is an element 'fixed after' or 'attached to the end of' a base word to modify its meaning or function. This contrasts with a 'prefix', which is an element 'fixed before'.

Analysis

Structure: suf (under, after) + fix (fasten) - suf: A form of the Latin prefix 'sub-' meaning 'under, below, after'. It assimilates to 'suf-' before 'f'. - fix: From Latin 'fixus', the past participle of 'figere', meaning 'to fasten, attach'.

Examples

The suffix "-less" means "without," as in the word "careless."

You can suffix "-ed" to many verbs to form the past tense.

Linguists study how different suffixes change a word's part of speech.