Dictionary
1-y
adjective suffix \ē; in some dialects, especially British, Southern, & New England, often i but not shown at individual entries\
: full or having a lot of something
: having the qualities of something : made of or seeming to be made of something
: resembling something
Full Definition of -Y
1
a : characterized by : full of <blossomy> <dirty> <muddy> <clayey> b : having the character of : composed of <icy> <waxy> c : like : like that of <homey> <wintry> —often with a disparaging connotation <stagy>
2
a : tending or inclined to <sleepy> <chatty> b : giving occasion for (specified) action <teary> c : performing (specified) action <curly>
Variants of -Y
-y also -ey \ē; in some dialects, especially British, Southern, & New England, often i but not shown at individual entries\
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Origin of -Y
Middle English, from Old English -ig; akin to Old High German -īg -y, Latin -icus, Greek -ikos, Sanskrit -ika
2-y
noun suffix \same\
plural -ies
Definition of -Y
1
: state : condition : quality <beggary>
2
: activity, place of business, or goods dealt with <chandlery> <laundry>
3
: whole body or group <soldiery>
Origin of -Y
Middle English -ie, from Anglo-French, from Latin -ia, from Greek -ia, -eia
3-y
noun suffix
plural -ies
Definition of -Y
: instance of a (specified) action <entreaty> <inquiry>
Origin of -Y
Middle English -ie, from Anglo-French, from Latin -ium
4-y
Definition of -Y
see -ie
-Y Defined for Kids
1-y
adjective suffix \ē\
-i·er-i·est
Definition of -Y for Kids
1
: showing, full of, or made of <dirty> <muddy> <icy>
2
: like <wintry>
3
: devoted to : enthusiastic about
4
: tending to <sleepy>
5
: somewhat : rather <chilly>
Variants of -Y
-y also -ey \ē\
2-y
noun suffix \ē\
plural -ies
Definition of -Y for Kids
1
: state : condition : quality <jealousy>
2
: activity, place of business, or goods dealt with <laundry>
3
: whole body or group
3-y
noun suffix
plural -ies
Definition of -Y for Kids
: occasion or example of a specified action <entreaty> <inquiry>
4-y
Definition of -Y for Kids
see -ie
Seen & Heard
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