-ish

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 700+ words | Copyright

-ish2 repr. F. -iss-, extension of the stem of vbs. in -ir, e.g. abolir ABOLISH, périr PERISH, prp. abolissant, périssant, 3rd pers. pl. pres. ind. abolissent, périssent; originating in the -isc- of L. inceptive vbs., the use of which in F., Pr., and It. was extended to form a class corr. to L. vbs. in -īre and -ēre, together with some others that were assim. to these. The earliest forms in Eng. were -is(e), -iss(e), which were superseded by -ische, -ish(e); in Sc. is(se) remained to a later date and appeared in XVI as -eis(e). (In a few words F. -iss- is repr. by -ise or -ize, viz. advertise, aggrandize, amortize; réjouir, réjouiss- has given rejoice). Other endings have been assim. to this suffix in, e.g., admonish, astonish, distinguish, publish, relish.

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T. F. HOAD. "-ish." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "-ish." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ish1.html

T. F. HOAD. "-ish." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ish1.html

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