-o

a suffix occurring as the final element in informal shortenings of nouns (ammo; combo; condo; limo; promo); -o also forms nouns, usually derogatory, for persons or things exemplifying or associated with that specified by the base noun or adjective (cheapo; pinko; sicko; weirdo; wino).

a suffix occurring in colloquial noun or adjective derivatives, usually grammatically isolated, as in address: cheerio; kiddo; neato; righto.

Nearby words

-naut, -ness, -nik, -noia, -nomy, -o, -o-, -oate, -ock, -ocracy, -ode

Origin of -o

perhaps orig. the interjection O, appended to words as in def 2; as a derivational suffix reinforced by clipped forms of words with -o- as a linking element (e.g., photo, stereo), by Rom nouns ending in o, and by personal nouns such as bimbo and bozo, of obscure origin

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British Dictionary definitions for -o

-o

suffix

forming informal and slang variants and abbreviations, esp of nounswino; lie doggo; Jacko

Word Origin for -o

probably special use of oh

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012