-ail

See also ail

French

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -āculum. Cognate to French -acle, which is borrowed from Latin -āculum.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /aj/

Suffix

-ail

1. Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having the sense of ‘tool, object for a specific purpose’.

   éventer (“to ventilate”) --> éventail (“fan”)

2. Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having a collective sense.

   bête (“animal”) --> bétail (“cattle”)

Derived terms

[+] French words suffixed with -ail

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Scottish Gaelic

Alternative forms

• (slender) -eil

Etymology

From Middle Irish -amhail (compare Irish -úil, Manx -oil), from Old Irish -amail.

Suffix

-ail

1. Of or pertaining to an adjectival suffix applied to various words, usually nouns, to make an adjective.

   modhail ('S glè mhodhail sin dhe - that's very kind of him.)

Derived terms

[+] Scottish Gaelic words suffixed with -ail