Greek Suffixes 1

Level: C1

-ic (ique): angelic, cynic, phonic, unique

-ist: arist, chemist

-isk: asterisk, obelisk

-ism (asm): patriotism, despotism, enthusiasm

-ize: civilize, sympathize, criticize

-sis (sy): crisis, analysis, heresy, poesy

-e (y): catastrophe, monarchy, philosophy

Note: We still feel the force of a number of suffixes of foreign origin. These are:

-ee (French) added to nouns to denote, usually, the person who takes a passive share in an action: employee, payee, legatee, mortgagee, trustee, referee

-or (ar, er, eer, ier) denoting a person who performs a certain act or function: emperor, scholar, officer, muleteer, gondolier

-ist denoting a person who follows a certain trade or pursuit: chemist, theosophist, artist, nihilist

-ism forming abstract nouns: patriotism

-ble forming adjectives that have usually a passive sense: tolerable, bearable

-ize (ise) forming verbs from nouns and adjectives: crystallize, civilize, moralize, baptize