The Word Route

Common Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words:

suffix  +  meaning  =  example

able, ible  ~  able, capable  ~  capable, agreeable, edible, visible

ade   ~  result of action  ~  blockade

age  ~  act of, state of, result of   ~  storage, wreckage, damage

al  ~  relating to  ~  gradual, manual, natural

algia  ~  pain  ~  neuralgia, nostalgia, myalgia

an, ian  ~  native of, relating to  ~  African, riparian,

ance, ancy  ~  action, process, state  ~  assistance, allowance, defiance

ary, ery, ory  ~  relating to, quality, place where  ~  aviary, bravery, dormitory

cian  ~  possessing a specific skill or art  ~  magician, physician,

cy  ~  action, function  ~  hesitancy, prophecy, normalcy

cule, ling  ~  very small  ~ molecule, ridicule, animalcule, duckling, sapling

dom ~  quality, realm  ~  freedom, kingdom, wisdom

ee  ~  one who receives the action  ~  refugee, nominee, lessee

en  ~  made of, to make  ~  silken, frozen, wooden

ence, ency  ~  action, state of, quality  ~  difference, confidence, urgency, agency

er, or  ~  one who, that which  ~  baker, miller, professor

escent  ~  in the process of  ~  adolescent, senescence, putrescence

ese  ~  a native of, the language of   ~ Javanese, Japanese, Balinese

esis, osis  ~  action, process, condition  ~  genesis, hypnosis, neurosis, osmosis

ess  ~  female  ~  goddess, lioness, actress

et, ette  ~  small one, group  ~  midget, baronet, sextet, lorgnette

fic  ~  making, causing  ~  scientific, specific

ful  ~  full of   ~  frightful, careful, helpful

fy  ~  make  ~  beautify, fortify, simplify

hood  ~  order, condition, quality  ~  manhood, adulthood

ic  ~  nature of, like  ~  metallic, acidic, bucolic, simplistic

ice  ~  condition, state, quality  ~  justice, malice

id, ide  ~  a thing connected with or belonging to  ~  fluid, fluoride, bromide

ile  ~  relating to, suited for, capable of  ~  juvenile, senile, purile, missile

ine  ~  nature of   ~ feminine, genuine, medicine

ion, sion, tion  ~  act, result, or state of   ~  cancellation, contagion, infection, crenellation

ish  ~  origin, nature, resembling  ~  foolish, Irish, clownish, impish

ism  ~  system, manner, condition, characteristic  ~  alcoholism, communism, capitalism,
ist  ~  one who, that which  ~  artist, dentist, flautist

ite  ~  nature of, quality of, mineral product  ~  prelate, Mennonite, dynamite, graphite, Israelite

ity, ty  ~  state of, quality  ~  celebrity, captivity, clarity, poverty

ive  ~  causing, making  ~  abusive, exhaustive, abortive

ize, ise  ~  make  ~  emphasize, exercise, bowdlerize, bastardize, idolize, fanaticize

logy  ~  study, science, theory  ~  biology, anthropology, geology, neurology

ly  ~  like, manner of  ~  carelessly, fearlessly, hopelessly

ment  ~  act of, state or, result  ~  containment, contentment, amendment

ness  ~  state of  ~  carelessness, restlessness

nomy  ~  law  ~  autonomy, economy, taxonomy

oid  ~  resembling  ~  asteroid, spheroid, rhomboid, anthropoid

ous  ~  full of, having  ~  gracious, nervous, pompous,

ship  ~  state of, office, quality  ~  assistantship, friendship, authorship

some  ~  like, apt, tending to  ~  lonesome, lissome, threesome, gruesome

tude  ~  state of, condition of  ~  gratitude, aptitude, multitude

ure  ~  state of, act, process, rank  ~  culture, literature, rupture, rapture

ward  ~  in the direction of  ~  eastward, downward, backward

y  ~  inclined to, tend to  ~  cheery, crafty, faulty

---

Copyright © Jessica DeForest, 2000. All rights reserved

*A planned talk on a chosen subject before an audience; a speech.

More Noun Suffixes: Names for People

Vocabulary Sheet

-ist

abolition – abolitionist

active – activist

alarm – alarmist

anesthetic – anesthetist

archeology – archaeologist

art – artist

atheism – atheist

behaviorism – behaviorist

Buddhism – Buddhist

Calvinism – Calvinist

capitalism – capitalist

cardiology – cardiologist

cartoon – cartoonist

cello – cellist

chauvinism – chauvinist

chemistry – chemist

clarinet – clarinetist

column – columnist

conform – conformist

cubism – cubist

Deism – Deist

dentistry – dentist

dermatology – dermatologist

descriptivism – descriptivist

ecology – ecologist

economy – economist

feminist – feminist

flora – florist

flute – flutist

genealogy – genealogist

geology – geologist

guitar – guitarist

hairstyle – hairstylist

harp – harpist

illusion – illusionist

industry – industrialist

journal – journalist

kinesiology – kinesiologist

libretto – librettist

linguistics – linguist

lobby – lobbyist

lyric – lyricist

manicure – manicurist

Marxism – Marxist

mesmerize – mesmerist

mural – muralist

neurology – neurologist

novel – novelist

numerology – numerologist

nutrition – nutritionist

oboe – oboist

occult - occultist

odontology – odontologist

oncology – oncologist

ontology – ontologist

ophthalmology – ophthalmologist

orthodontia – orthodontist

ornithology – ornithologist

optometry – optometrist

paleontology – paleontologist

Panentheism - Panentheist

Pantheism – Pantheist

pathology – pathologist

pedology – pedologist

percussion – percussionist

pharmacy – pharmacist

philanthropy – philanthropist

philology – philologist

physics – physicist

physiotherapy – physiotherapist

piano – pianist

podiatry – podiatrist

prescriptivism – prescriptivist

proctology – proctologist

psychiatry – psychiatrist

psychology – psychologist

racism – racist

radiology – radiologist

reception – receptionist

Satanism – Satanist

saxophone – saxophonist

science – scientist

sexism – sexist

taxidermy – taxidermist

technology – technologist

telegraph – telegraphist

terror – terrorist

therapy – therapist

transcription – transcriptionist

type – typist

urology – urologist

vibraphone – vibraphonist

violin – violinist

viola – violist

xylophone – xylophonist

zoology – zoologist

-ian

beauty – beautician

comedy – comedian

electricity – electrician

grammar – grammarian

guard – guardian

history – historian

humanity – humanitarian

library – librarian

magic – magician

mathematics – mathematician

music – musician

obstetrics – obstetrician

optic – optician

pediatrics – pediatrician

physic – physician

politics – politician

rhetoric – rhetorician

statistics – statistician

surgery – surgeon*

technical – technician

Thespis – thespian

valedictory – valedictorian

vegetable – vegetarian

veterinary – veterinarian

-ess

actor – actress

adulterer – adulteress

author – authoress

duke – duchess

god – goddess

launderer – laundress

lion – lioness

master – mistress

poet – poetess

priest – priestess

prince – princess

seam – seamstress

steward – stewardess

-er/-or/-eur/-ur/-ar

Ø – ambassador

astronomy – astronomer

Ø – author

bar – barrister

calligraphy – calligrapher

cartography – cartographer

cash – cashier

contract – contractor

Ø – coroner

Ø – courier

Ø – doctor

engine – engineer

enterprise – entrepreneur

falcon – falconer

fight fire – firefighter

monger fish – fishmonger

football – footballer

forest – forester

dig grave – gravedigger

grocery – grocer

keep house – housekeeper

jewelry – jeweler

law – lawyer

mountain – mountaineer

pasture – pastor

perfume – perfumer

port – porter

profess – professor

radiography – radiographer

register – registrar

restaurant – restaurateur

retail – retailer

senate – senator

Ø – soldier

sonography – sonographer

Ø – tailor

translate – translator

treasure – treasurer

Ø – tutor

upholstery – upholsterer

Ø – usher

yodel – yodeler

keep zoo – zookeeper

https://msu.edu/~defores1/gre/roots/gre_rts_afx3.htm