-ish
1a suffix used to form adjectives from nouns, with the sense of “belonging to” (British; Danish; English; Spanish); “after the manner of,” “having the characteristics of,” “like” (babyish; girlish; mulish); “addicted to,” “inclined or tending to” (bookish; freakish); “near or about” (fiftyish; sevenish).
a suffix used to form adjectives from other adjectives, with the sense of “somewhat,” “rather” (oldish; reddish; sweetish).
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Origin of -ish
1Middle English; Old English -isc; cognate with German -isch, Gothic -isks, Greek -iskos; akin to -esque
Definition for -ish (2 of 2)
-ish
2a suffix occurring in i-stem verbs borrowed from French: ravish.
Origin of -ish
2< French -iss-, extended stem of verbs with infinitives in -ir ≪ Latin -isc-, in inceptive verbs
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for -ish
-ish
suffix forming adjectives
of or belonging to a nationality or groupScottish
often derogatory having the manner or qualities of; resemblingslavish; prudish; boyish
somewhat; approximatelyyellowish; sevenish
concerned or preoccupied withbookish
Word Origin for -ish
Old English -isc; related to German -isch, Greek -iskos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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