READING – Word Parts
rev. Aug. 2005
WORD PARTS: MOST COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
-able capable of being readable, manageable, perishable
-age act, condition wastage, postage
-al like, suitable for comical, theatrical
-an person who musician, American
-ance state of being circumstance, resemblance
-ant (noun) person occupant, accountant
-ant (adj.) state of being defiant, vacant
-ar relating to muscular, lunar
-ary place where library, dictionary
-ate to make create, formulate, generate,
-ation quality or condition imagination, realization
-ee person who is nominee, employee
-en made of golden, wooden
-ence state, quality permanence, excellence, reference
-ent person who student, superintendent
-fic causing, producing scientific, prolific
-ful (adj.)
full of, characterized by,
having the qualities of, liable
to
prideful, peaceful, masterful, helpful
-ful (noun) quantity that fills or would fill roomful, cupful, handful
-fy to make simplify, glorify, rectify, justify
-hood state, condition childhood, neighborhood
-ible capable of being legible, divisible, collectible
-ic of, characteristic of angelic, symphonic
-ice condition, quality justice, malice
-id state, condition fluid, squalid
-ile relating to servile, infantile
-ion state of being condition, confusion, action, tension
-ism act, state, or doctrine criticism, alcoholism, Buddhism
-ist person who chemist, moralist, dentist
-ity quality, state, degree activity, humanity, theatricality
-ive relating to or tends toward massive, inventive, active, destructive
-ize to make, become Americanize, modernize, symbolize
-less without helpless, motionless
-ment state of being improvement, fulfillment
-or (orer) person who conductor, inventor, teacher
-ory place for directory, dormitory
-ous full of famous, pious
-some tending to lonesome, troublesome
-tude condition gratitude, attitude
-ty state, condition liberty, sanity
-ward direction, course backward, eastward