-head

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Suffix 1.1.1.1 Derived terms 1.1.2 See also 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Suffix 1.2.1.1 Derived terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English -hêde, -hêd, attested from the 12th century, continuing a hypothetical Old English *-haedu, cognate to German -heit, from a Common Germanic suffix of condition or quality, *-haidu-z (Gothic -haidus). Originally restricted to adjectives, the suffix began to be attached to nouns as well from at least the 15th century, leading to confusion with the -hood suffix (Old English -hád), and finally to the wide replacement of -head by -hood even in adjectives.

[edit] Suffix

-head

1. Suffix used to create nouns indicating a state, similar to the suffixes -ness and -hood

[edit] Derived terms

• godhead
• maidenhead

[edit] See also

• fiend
• -hood
• -ness
• -itas

[edit] Etymology 2

Combining form of the noun head.

[edit] Suffix

-head

1. Used to form (usually derogatory) words for people who regularly use a specified drug or other substance, such as alcohol, or who are addicted in some way.

[edit] Derived terms