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A suffix from AS. -an, formerly used to form the plural of many nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural forms.

A noun suffix signifying action, state, or quality; also, that which relates to the action or state; as in emergence, diffidence, diligence, influence, difference, excellence. See -ance.

A noun suffix having much the same meaning as -ence, but more commonly signifying the quality or state; as, emergency, efficiency. See -ancy.

An adjective suffix signifying action or being; as, corrodent, excellent, emergent, continent, quiescent. See -ant.

A suffix used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; as, warmer, sooner, lat(e)er, earl(y)ier.

A suffix signifying beginning, beginning to be; as, adolescent, effervescent, etc.

A suffix of certain words from the French, Italian, and Spanish. It denotes manner or style; like; as, arabesque, after the manner of the Arabs.

A suffix used to form feminine nouns; as, actress, deaconess, songstress.

A suffix used to form the superlative of adjectives and adverbs; as, smoothest; earl(y)iest.

A noun suffix with a diminutive force; as in baronet, pocket, facet, floweret, latchet.

A suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as, auriferous, yielding gold; chyliferous, producing chyle.

A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform.

A suffix signifying full of, abounding with; as, boastful, harmful, woeful.

A suffix signifying to make, to form into, etc.; as, acetify, amplify, dandify, Frenchify, etc.

A suffix used in scientific words in the sense of producing, generating: as, amphigen, amidogen, halogen.

A suffix signifying producing, yielding; as, alkaligenous; endogenous.

A suffix signifying bearing, producing; as, calcigerous; dentigerous.

A suffix indicating something drawn or written, a drawing, writing; -- as, monogram, telegram, chronogram.

A suffix signifying something written, a writing; also, a writer; as autograph, crystograph, telegraph, photograph.

A suffix denoting the art of writing or describing; also, the writing or description itself; a treatise; as, calligraphy, biography, geography.