-ish
-ish
11.
a suffix used to form adjectives from nouns, with the sense of “belonging to” (British; Danish; English; Spanish); “after the manner of,” “having the characteristics of,” “like” (babyish; girlish; mulish); “addicted to,” “inclined or tending to” (bookish; freakish); “near or about” (fiftyish; sevenish).
2.
a suffix used to form adjectives from other adjectives, with the sense of “somewhat,” “rather” (oldish; reddish; sweetish).
Origin:
Middle English; Old English -isc; cognate with German -isch, Gothic -isks, Greek -iskos; akin to -esque
Middle English; Old English -isc; cognate with German -isch, Gothic -isks, Greek -iskos; akin to -esque
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To -ish
00:10
-ish
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| -ish | |
| —suffix forming adjectives | |
| 1. | of or belonging to a nationality or group: Scottish |
| 2. | derogatory often having the manner or qualities of; resembling: slavish; prudish; boyish |
| 3. | somewhat; approximately: yellowish; sevenish |
| 4. | concerned or preoccupied with: bookish |
| [Old English -isc; related to German -isch, Greek -iskos] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
-ish
adj. suffix, from O.E. -isc, common Gmc. (cf. O.N. -iskr, Ger. -isch, Goth. -isks), cognate with Gk. dim. suffix -iskos. Colloquially attached to hours to denote approximation, 1916.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Nearby Words
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