English Explanatory Dictionary

-ish

English dictionary entry

Meanings

suffix
  1. Typical of, similar to, being like.
  2. Somewhat, rather.
  3. About, approximately.
  4. Of, belonging, or relating to (a nationality, place, language or similar association with something).
suffix
  1. An ending found on some verbs; see usage notes.

Pronunciation

ĭsh /ɪʃ/ /əʃ/ /iʃ/ en-us--ish.ogg

Word forms

-ish

Etymology

From Middle English -ish, -isch, from Old English -isċ (“-ish”, suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-isk, from Proto-Germanic *-iskaz (“-ish”), from Proto-Indo-European *-iskos. Cognate with Dutch -s; German -isch (whence Dutch -isch); Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish -isk or -sk; Lithuanian -iškas; Russian -ский (-skij); and the Ancient Greek diminutive suffix -ίσκος (-ískos). Doublet of -esque and -ski.

Synonyms

quasi- para- -oid -form -iform -esque -ly -some -y -ass -like

Related words

ish abolish accomplish
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