ish
[ ish ]
/ ɪʃ /
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adverb Informal.
(used to modify or moderate something previously stated or as a vague reply to a question) somewhat; in a way; not exactly: It's a decent (ish) place to work.“Are you tired?” “Yeah...ish.”I'd like to get married. Ish.
near or about; approximately: The lights went out at 11-ish.It'll be a $25ish taxi ride.
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Origin of ish
First recorded in 1985–90; from -ish1 (in the sense “somewhat”)
Definition for ish (2 of 3)
-ish1
a 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).
Origin of -ish
1Middle English; Old English -isc; cognate with German -isch, Old Norse -iskr, Gothic -isks, Greek diminutive noun suffix -isk(os); akin to -esque
Definition for ish (3 of 3)
-ish2
a suffix occurring in i-stem verbs borrowed from French: ravish.
Origin of -ish
2From French -iss-, extended stem of verbs with infinitives in -ir, ultimately from Latin -isc-, in verbs that express the beginning of an action or process
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for ish
British Dictionary definitions for ish (1 of 2)
-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
British Dictionary definitions for ish (2 of 2)
ish
/ (ɪʃ) /
sentence substitute
slang used to express reservation or qualified assentThings are looking up. Ish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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