Suffixes

A suffix is a fixed piece of meaning fastened to the end of a word. Learn that-ous is “full of” and -ity makes a noun of a quality, and words you have never seen start giving themselves away. These 8 suffixes account for 150 words in our list.

• -able14 words

  capable of being

  Latin

• -ate27 words

  to make, to act on

  Latin

• -ence5 words

  state or quality of

  Latin

• -ic22 words

  relating to, having the nature of

  Greek

• -ious24 words

  characterised by

  Latin

• -ity9 words

  state or quality of

  Latin

• -ive20 words

  tending to, having the nature of

  Latin

• -ous29 words

  full of, characterised by

  Latin