Suffixation: meaning, definitions and examples

✍️
Add to dictionary

suffixation

 

[ sʌfɪkˈseɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

linguistics term

Suffixation is the process of adding a suffix to a word to create a new form. This morphological process is commonly used in many languages to modify the meaning of the root words. Suffixes can change the grammatical category of a word, allowing for different uses in sentences. For example, adding '-ness' to the adjective 'happy' transforms it into the noun 'happiness'. Suffixation is key to understanding word formation and etymology within linguistics.

Synonyms

affixation, morphological derivation, word formation

Examples of usage

  • The suffixation of -able transforms the verb 'educate' into the adjective 'educable'.
  • In English, suffixation can create adjectives, nouns, and sometimes verbs.
  • Learning suffixation can enhance vocabulary skills.
  • Suffixation often reflects tense, number, or comparison in language.

Translations

Translations of the word "suffixation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sufixação

🇮🇳 उपसर्गण

🇩🇪 Suffixierung

🇮🇩 sufiksasi

🇺🇦 суфіксація

🇵🇱 sufiksacja

🇯🇵 接尾辞化

🇫🇷 suffixation

🇪🇸 sufijación

🇹🇷 ekleme

🇰🇷 접미사화

🇸🇦 إضافة اللواحق

🇨🇿 sufixace

🇸🇰 sufixácia

🇨🇳 后缀化

🇸🇮 sufiksacija

🇮🇸 sufiksun

🇰🇿 жұрнақтау

🇬🇪 დამატებითი მარცვლები

🇦🇿 sufiksasiya

🇲🇽 sufijación

Word origin

The term 'suffixation' derives from 'suffix', which can be traced back to the Latin 'suffigere', meaning 'to fasten underneath'. The word 'suffix' entered English in the late 19th century, sourced from the combination of 'sub-' meaning 'under' and 'figere' which means 'to fix'. Linguistically, suffixation has been recognized as one of the primary methods of creating new words by attaching additional letters or syllables to the end of root words. This method of word formation has played a significant role in the development of English, as it allows for the flexibility and expansion of vocabulary. Over time, suffixation has evolved alongside changes in language use and structure, leading to greater complexity in word morphology.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,372, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.