-le

See also Appendix:Variations of "le"

English

Alternative forms

• -el

Etymology 1

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix). Cognate with West Frisian -elje, Dutch -elen, German -eln, Danish -le, Swedish -la, Icelandic -la. Compare -er.

Suffix

-le

1. A frequentative suffix of verbs, indicating repetition or continuousness:

   assle, buzzle, crackle, cuddle, dazzle, draggle, drawl, dribble, drizzle, fumble, gamble, grapple, handle, kissle, maddle, mingle, nestle, nuzzle, prattle, ramble, rattle, ripple, scribble, sile, sizzle, smartle, sniffle, snuggle, startle, stopple, suckle, tattle, tickle, topple, waggle, wiggle, wrestle

Translations

frequentative suffix

• Portuguese: -ejar (pt)

Etymology 2

From Middle English -el, -le, from Old English -el, -ol (adjective suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz (adjective suffix). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el.

Suffix

-le

1. A suffix forming adjectives from verbs with the meaning of "prone to", "tending to", "apt to", "capable of"; compare -ative:

   battle, breakle, brittle, fickle, forgettle, little, newfangle, nimble, wankle

Etymology 3

From Middle English -el, from Old English -el, -ol, -ul (agent suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent suffix). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el.

Suffix

-le

1. A suffix forming agent nouns from verbs:

   beadle, beetle, bridle, bundle, cripple, fettle, girdle, ladle, losel, runnel, shovel, spindle, spittle, steeple, stile, stopple, thimble, tool, towel, trundle

Etymology 4

From Middle English -el, from Old English -el, -il (diminutive suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (diminutive suffix).

Suffix

-le

1. A suffix forming diminutives from other nouns; compare -ling:

   bramble, dimple, dingle, hatchel, hosel, hovel, gomeral, kernel, newel, nozzle, puckle, treddle

Derived terms

[+] English words suffixed with -le

terms derived using -le (frequentative)

assle crackle dazzle dribble nuzzle prattle puzzle

sniffle startle tousle twinkle wrestle wriggle

terms derived using -le (diminutive)

dottle

piffle

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Latin

Suffix

-le

1. vocative masculine singular of -lus

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Romanian

Etymology 1

From Latin -ae (“first-declension ending”), with intrusive l.

Suffix

-le

1. (plural) -s (feminine/neuter)

Usage notes

• This form of the plural is indefinite, and used for feminine nouns in the nominative/accusative and genitive/dative cases which end in a stressed vowel, or is monosyllabic:
• zile, from zi, fem.
• basmale, from basma, fem.
• cafele, from cafe, fem.

Alternative forms

• -e

Etymology 2

From Latin ille

Suffix

-le

1. variant of -l

the (definite article)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for both masculine and neuter singular nouns in the nominative and accusative cases which end in -e:

• fratele, from frate, masc.
• numele, from nume, neut.
• muntele, from munte, masc.

Etymology 3

From Latin illae, nominative feminine plural of ille.

Suffix

-le

1. (definite article) the (feminine/neuter plural, nominative and accusative)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for both feminine and neuter plural nouns in the nominative and accusative cases

• amintirile, from amintiri, fem.
• visurile, from visuri, neut.

Note that this suffix is also added to indefinite feminine plurals in -le:

• zilele, from zile, fem.
• basmalele, from basmale, fem.
• cafelele, from cafele, fem.

The suffix is also used with feminine plural adjectives in the nominative and accusative cases to make the articulated definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies:

• caldele plăcinte, from plăcintele calde (both meaning, "the warm pies")

Related terms

-l (masculine/neuter singular nominative and accusative) -a (feminine singular nominative and accusative) -i (masculine/neuter plural nominative and accusative)

-lui (masculine/neuter singular genitive and dative) -ei (feminine singular genitive and dative) -lor (plural genitive and dative)

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Scots

Pronunciation

• IPA: [ʌl], [əl], [l]

Etymology 1

From Middle English -el, -le, from Old English -el, -ol (adjective suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz (adjective suffix).

Suffix

-le

1. used for forming adjectives signifying 'having a tendency to' or 'able to'; e.g. forgettle, smittle, fodgle

Etymology 2

Suffix

-le

1. a contracted form of full; e.g. cairtle (“cartful, cart-load”), cogle (“bowlful”)

Etymology 3

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-lōnan (frequentative verbal suffix).

Suffix

-le

1. frequentative or diminutive suffix, added to verbs
2. forms adverbs implying direction towards

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Swabian

Suffix

-le

1. used to form a diminutive of a word

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Turkish

Suffix

-le

1. with, shortened form of ile

   annemle okula gidiyorum

   I am going to school with my mother

2. by, shortened form of ile

   okula otobüsle gidiyorum

   I am going to school by bus

Usage notes

• If the word's last vowel is "a", "ı", "o" or "u", it becomes "-la".

  babamla ve uçakla - with my father and by plane

  kızımla ve kayıkla - with my daughter and by boat

  oğlumla ve vapurla - with my son and by steamship

  horozla ve motorla - with the rooster and by motorcycle

• If the word ends in a vowel, it becomes "-yle". (If it's a back vowel, "-yla")

  gemiyle - by ship

  sevgiyle - with love

  arabayla - by car

  korkuyla - with fear

• If it's added to a proper noun, it must be used with an apostrophe.

  Zafer'le - with Zafer.

  Emre'yle - with Emre.