English Explanatory Dictionary

-ling

English dictionary entry

Meanings

suffix
  1. small, immature, miniature
  2. follower or resident
suffix
  1. An adverbial suffix denoting manner, direction, or position.

Pronunciation

/lɪŋ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl--ling.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl--ling.wav

Word forms

-ling -lyng -lin -lings

Etymology

From Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, from Proto-West Germanic *-ling, from Proto-Germanic *-lingaz, a nominal suffix, probably composed of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent/instrumental/diminutive suffix) + Proto-Germanic *-ingaz (patronymic suffix). Akin to Dutch -ling, German -ling, Icelandic -lingur, Gothic -𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (-liggs). More at -le, -ing.

Synonyms

-cule -ee -el -et -ette -icle -ie -kin -le -let -ole -ule -y mini- micro- nano-

Related words

-en -le -ock

Derived words

buckling castling darling daughterling doeling duckling earthling fatling fingerling fledgling fondling goatling godling gosling lambling lordling pigling princeling puffling spiderling sportling swanling vetchling cageling changeling endling firstling foundling hatchling hireling kindling nestling overling ridgeling sapling seedling shaveling starveling stripling suckling underling weakling wildling witling wordling worldling yearling youngling darkling flatling headling sideling sunderling
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