Milica Preradovi

Leksika morfologija, 2014/15

SUFFIXES COMMONLY FOUND IN NEW WORDS

Derivation by means of adding derivational suffixes is the most common type of word formation.
A suffix is an affix that is added to the end of a word that conditions its usage or meaning. The
addition of a suffix usually (though not always) creates the word belonging to another part of
speech, and the lexical meaning of the resulting word is always changed.
These are some of the suffixes which are commonly used in new words: -ic, -y, -ion, -ate, -ize,
-ing, -ness, -er, -oid, -ity, -ish.
-ic: used for forming adjectives from other parts of speech, occurring orig. in Greek and Latin
loanwords; used as an adjective-forming suffix with the particular senses having some
characteristics of.
bacheloric: adjective which refers to a person having the characteristics of a bachelor, being
single, unmarried and embracing same.
egoic: adjective which refers to a state where one cares most about the self, as opposed to others.
-y: used for forming adjectives; a suffix meaning characterized by or inclined to the substance
or action of the word or state to which the suffix is attached.
daggy: adjective which refers to something unstylish and dated, something very out of style and
uncool. It also refers to something untidy and unhygienic.
lurpy: adjective which refers to a person being tall, pale, sickly, uncoordinated, and inept at
socialization. Interpretation of intended meaning generally fits the stereotype of the clumsy male
geek who has little experience with the outdoors or women.
-ion: used for forming nouns, appearing in words of Latin origin, denoting action or prediction.
dollarization: noun which refers to the increased transactions with the US, resulting in greater
presence of American money in an economy.
fetishization: noun which refers to the act or process of turning something into a fetish,
obsession.
-ate: used for forming words which are full of having the quality of something.
effeminate: verb which refers to a man or boy having traits, tastes and habits traditionally
considered feminine.
busticate: verb which refers to destroying an object such that it cannot be repaired. To break
something beyond all hope of repair.

Milica Preradovi
Leksika morfologija, 2014/15

-ize: used for forming transitive verbs with the general senses to render, make, to convert
into, give a specified character or form to, but also forming intransitive verbs denoting a change
of state or kinds or instances of behavior.
Francize: verb which refers to a business, group, or person who must adopt French habits, policy
and language.
gelatinize: verb which refers to hardening, or more technically speaking, polymerizing of a
liquid substance into something more solid. This word conveys the idea of forming a gel.
posterize: verb which refers to a move in a basketball game; to allow a great play to occur or to
be the defender who messes up and lets something big happen.
-ing: used for forming nouns which refer to a person or a thing having a certain quality or being
of a certain kind.
icing: noun which also refers to jewelry. This word and its new meaning is very similar to the
word frosting. A lot of jewelry have a shimmering appearance in the same way that ice does.
mushrooming: verb which refers to the process of spreading over an area.
-ness: used for forming nouns indicating state, condition, or quality or an instance of one of
these.
italyness: noun which refers to the experiences that are related to visiting the country of Italy.
hopeness: noun which refers to a state or condition of having hope, or of wanting and expecting
something to happen. Not without hope. This word directly contrasts the term hopelessness.
-er: used for forming nouns which are designating persons from the object of their occupation or
labor.
lifer: noun which refers to a person who has attended the same school from kindergarten through
12th grade and probably has spent his or her entire life at the same place.
blogger: noun which refers to a person who periodically posts on his/her website about the daily
events of his/her life. It is used only in reference to the internet.
creeper: noun which refers to a person who exhibits weird and creepy qualities.
-oid: used for forming adjectives and nouns indicating likeness, resemblance or similarity.
nerdoid: noun which refers to a nerdy person, someone who is slavishly devoted to intellectual
or academic pursuits.

Milica Preradovi
Leksika morfologija, 2014/15

-ity: used mainly for forming nouns from adjectives, denoting state or condition. It is a suffix
occurring in loanwords from Latin and French.
roxority: noun which refers to a state of being cool, great and wonderful. It is a youthful
expression.
globality: noun which refers to the end result of globalization or when globalization is almost
complete.
-ish: used for forming adjectives from nouns, with meanings pertaining to, after the manner
of, and having the characteristics of.
toolish: adjective which refers to someone who is used by someone or something for the users
purposes, usually derogatory.
guyish: adjective which refers to a person who has the characteristics of masculinity. It is being
associated with manliness apparent meaning.

All words that I came across during this research are newly formed. These words, in this case
colloquial words, are formed by adding suffixes to a pre-existing word. This process, while
partly retaining some of the original meaning of the base of the word, changes the definition of
the newly formed word.
REFERENCES:

Sinclair, J. (1991). English Guides 2: Word Formation, Collins Cobuild.

Roget, P. (1992). Rogets Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. Chancellor Press, London.
Wehmeier, S. (ed) (2005). Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English. 7th ed. Oxford.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
https://ahdictionary.com/
http://neologisms.rice.edu/index.php