-ish

¹

1. 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 ).
2. a suffix used to form adjectives from other adjectives, with the sense of “somewhat,” “rather” ( oldish; reddish; sweetish ).

-ish

²

1. a suffix occurring in i -stem verbs borrowed from French:

   ravish.

ish

³

[ ish ]

adverb

Informal.

1. (used to modify or moderate something previously stated or as a vague reply to a question) somewhat; in a way; not exactly: “Are you tired?” “Yeah...ish.”

   It's a decent (ish) place to work.

   “Are you tired?” “Yeah...ish.”

   I'd like to get married. Ish.

2. near or about; approximately: It'll be a $25ish taxi ride.

   The lights went out at 11-ish.

   It'll be a $25ish taxi ride.

ish

¹

/ ɪʃ /

sentence substitute

1. slang.
   used to express reservation or qualified assent

   Things are looking up. Ish

-ish

²

suffix forming adjectives

1. of or belonging to a nationality or group

   Scottish

2. derogatory.
   having the manner or qualities of; resembling

   prudish

   boyish

   slavish

3. somewhat; approximately

   sevenish

   yellowish

4. concerned or preoccupied with

   bookish

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ish¹

Middle English; Old English -isc; cognate with German -isch, Old Norse -iskr, Gothic -isks, Greek diminutive noun suffix -isk(os); akin to -esque

Origin of -ish²

From 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

Origin of -ish³

First recorded in 1985–90; from -ish ¹( def ) (in the sense “somewhat”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ish¹

Old English -isc; related to German -isch, Greek -iskos