-ship

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-ship suffix denoting state or condition:
1.. added to adjs. and pps.; of the numerous OE. exx., only HARDSHIP and WORSHIP survive;

2.. added to sbs. to denote the state or condition of being what is expressed by the sb., the qualities or character associated with, the power implied by, and spec. the position or dignity designated by the sb., as in OE. frēondsċipe FRIENDSHIP, hlāfordsċipe LORDSHIP, similarly in authorship, craftsmanship, fellowship, horsemanship, kingship, stewardship. In early mod. Eng. it is added to a sb. to denote a state of life relating to what is denoted by the sb.; courtship (XVI) is the chief instance. TOWNSHIP is the one survival of a group of OE. sbs. with coll. sense.

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