Go to 'thermo-' entry Go to 'dino-' entry Go to 'chondro-' entry Go to 'aero-' entry Go to '-logy' entry Go to 'thaumato-' entry Go to 'nano-' entry Go to '-sophy' entry Go to 'bucco-' entry Go to '-ism' entry Go to '-lysis' entry Go to 'galacto-' entry Go to '-anthropy' entry Go to 'pneumo-' entry Go to '-ploitation' entry Go to '-lithic' entry Go to '-sepalous' entry Go to 'onco-' entry Go to '-parous' entry Go to 'dermato-' entry Go to 'multi-' entry Go to 'dodeca-' entry Go to '-zoon' entry Go to 'vermi-' entry Go to 'crystallo-' entry Go to 'biblio-' entry Go to 'eco-' entry Go to 'juxta-' entry Go to 'facio-' entry
Affixes: the building blocks of English
Affixes: the building blocks of English
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-sy

Forming nouns and adjectives.

[Origin uncertain, perhaps a combination of -s1 and -y2.]

This ending is added to proper names to provide an affectionate version: Betsy, Patsy, Topsy. It can also be added to a variety of nouns, such as antsy, ballsy, gutsy, popsy, footsie, and tootsy. Some adjectives suggest smallness: eensy (and eensy-weensy), itsy-bitsy, teensy (and teensy-weensy). Other adjectives have a dismissive or contemptuous sense: artsy-fartsy, bitsy, booksy, cutesy, folksy, mumsy, newsy, rootsy. Occasionally, the spelling is -zy, as in ditzy.

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