Suffixes

Reference list: A reference list with all common prefixes, roots, and suffixes is available for review at the end of this chapter to help you study.

Suffixes

Suffixes are word parts added to the end of a word. Like prefixes, they modify meaning. Unlike prefixes, suffixes can also change a word’s grammatical class (its part of speech). That means a suffix can turn a noun into a verb, an adjective, or an adverb so the word fits the grammar of a sentence.

Take the root word “act,” meaning “do.” By adding different suffixes, you can build several related words:

• “action” (act + “-ion,” meaning “result of”)
• “acting” (act + “-ing,” meaning “process of”)
• “actor” (act + “-or,” meaning “person”)

Suffixes give you a flexible way to build meaning. Next, we’ll look at some common suffixes and how they work in real words.

-able/-ible

Meaning: capable of

Example words: Avoidable, Relatable, Debatable, Hospitable, Eligible

• Avoidable: A-void-able, meaning “able to escape or empty away.” To avoid something is to go around it, steer clear of it, or try to escape from it. Adding the suffix -able means someone is capable of avoiding it.

• Relatable: Re-lat-able, meaning “able to carry back.” When something is relatable, it’s understandable to others because they may have had a similar experience. People are able to sympathize (or “carry”) the same type of feeling.

• Debatable: De-bat-able, meaning “able to fight away.” A debate is a verbal argument or discussion. If a topic is debatable, it can be fought over verbally.

• Hospitable: Hospit-able, meaning “able to [be a] guest.” A hospitable person welcomes others, and a hospitable place is one where a person can feel comfortable and welcome.

Knowledge check: What does the word eligible mean?

(spoiler)

E-lig-able, meaning “able to pick out.” To be eligible is to be a contender for some type of selection or choice. So an eligible contestant for a competition is a person who is able to be chosen (or “picked out”) to participate.

-ate

Meaning: state or quality of

Example words: Activate, Ambulate, Congregate, Commiserate, Collaborate

• Activate: Act-ate, meaning “state of doing.” When something is activated, it’s set in motion. It goes from a state of “non-doing” to a state of doing.

• Ambulate: Ambl-ate, meaning “state of going.” To ambulate is to walk or move about. In other words, a person is in a state of going or moving when they ambulate.

• Congregate: Con-greg-ate, meaning “state of flocking together.” To congregate is to come together as a group, much like birds flock together.

• Commiserate: Com-miser-ate, meaning “being unhappy together.” To commiserate with someone is to feel pain, pity, or compassion by sympathizing with the other person’s pain. In this way, both parties are “being unhappy together” through sharing mutual sorrow.

Knowledge check: What does the word collaborate mean?

(spoiler)

Col-labor-ate, meaning “state of laboring together.” When people collaborate, they work together to achieve a common goal. Thus, they are “laboring together” to meet their desired outcome.

-ism

Meaning: belief

Example words: Atheism, Criticism, Minimalism, Impressionism, Optimism

• Atheism: A-theo-ism, meaning “without a belief in god.” Atheism is the belief that there is no god, or the lack of belief in any god.

• Criticism: Critic-ism, meaning “belief in judgement.” Criticism is the act of judging, analyzing, or critiquing something. To give criticism, a person must believe in their own judgement and qualifications.

• Minimalism: Minimal-ism, meaning “belief in [a] small [amount].” Minimalism is a painting or decorating style emphasizing the absolute minimum in design, color, and form. Those who adhere to minimalist principles believe in using the smallest amount of a thing to achieve their vision.

• Impressionism: Im-press-ion-ism, meaning “the belief of pressing in on.” Impressionism is an art or literary style that concentrates on conveying the immediate visual perception of a scene or seeks to evoke a certain image in the mind of an audience. Impressionism is about “pressing in on” an idea and passing that idea along to the viewer.

Knowledge check: What does the word optimism mean?

(spoiler)

Optimism, meaning “belief in the best.” Optimism is the mindset or belief in positive, favorable, or the best possible outcomes for future events.

-less

Meaning: without

Example words: Reckless, Witless, Ruthless, Hapless, Pitiless

• Reckless: Reck-less, meaning “without care.” Someone who is reckless doesn’t care about the possible consequences of potentially dangerous or harmful actions. Reckless individuals tend to lack caution and engage in risky behaviors.

• Witless: Wit-less, meaning “without knowledge.” Witless means foolish or lacking in intelligence. Therefore, people or animals who are witless lack knowledge.

• Ruthless: Ruth-less, meaning “without compassion.” To be ruthless is to be merciless or cruel, as a ruthless individual lacks pity or compassion.

• Hapless: Hap-less, meaning “without chance.” A hapless person is unlucky or unfortunate. In other words, they have no chance to succeed.

Knowledge check: What does the word pitiless mean?

(spoiler)

Pity-less, meaning “without pity.” To be pitiless is to have no pity or compassion for another’s suffering.

-logy

Meaning: study of

Example words: Psychology, Theology, Geology, Epidemiology, Dermatology

• Psychology: Psych-logy, meaning “study of the mind.” Psychology is the science of studying the mind, including mental processes, emotions, and behavior.

• Theology: Theo-logy, meaning “study of god.” Theology is the study of god and religion from a religious perspective, focusing on divinity, history, and religious inquiry.

• Geology: Geo-logy, meaning “study of the Earth.” Geology is the study of the Earth, including its history, origins, structure, and components.

• Epidemiology: Epi-dem-logy, meaning “study among people.” Epidemiology is the study of diseases, including the causes, spread, and control of disease. Epidemiology studies how diseases pass amongst populations in order to help control and mitigate said diseases.

Knowledge check: What does the word dermatology mean?

(spoiler)

Derm-logy, meaning “study of skin.” Dermatology is the medical science of studying the skin, including its structure and function as well as diseases, disorders, and treatments of the skin.

-tion/-sion

Meaning: state of or act of

Example words: Attention, Direction, Accusation, Decryption, Revelation

• Attention: At-tend-tion, meaning “the act of stretching towards.” Attention is the act of listening, noticing, concentrating, or observing. To give attention to something is to “stretch” your mind towards it.

• Direction: Di-rect-tion, meaning “the act of guiding straight.” To give someone a direction is to guide them (straight) towards a particular path or action. And when you walk in a particular direction, you walk straight towards it.

• Accusation: Ac-cus-tion, meaning “the state of accusing towards.” An accusation is a charge or claim of wrongdoing. To make an accusation is to push a claim towards someone by asserting that they have done wrong.

• Decryption: De-crypt-tion, meaning “the act of removing [something] hidden.” Decryption is the act of decoding, unscrambling, or revealing a hidden truth. It is the opposite of encryption (which is to conceal something through a pattern or code).

Knowledge check: What does the word revelation mean?

(spoiler)

Re-vel-tion, meaning “the act of uncovering again.” A revelation can mean either a sudden insight or the unveiling of a truth. In the second meaning, a revelation means a disclosure of something previously unknown.