-ety

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Cognate of -ity, ultimately from Latin -(i)tās.[1] See more at -ity.

Suffix[edit]

-ety

  1. Used to indicate qualities or states.
    ‎contrary + ‎-ety → ‎contrariety

Etymology 2[edit]

Uncertain. Perhaps imitative of repeated action.[2]

Suffix[edit]

-ety

  1. Added to monosyllabic words, typically nouns or adjectives, to extend their form.
    1. Often with frequentative force.
      ‎jig + ‎-ety → ‎jiggety
      ‎hip-hop + ‎-ety → ‎hippety-hoppety
      ‎yack + ‎-ety → ‎yackety-yak
    2. Also seen in other fanciful compounds.
      ‎dig + ‎-ety → ‎diggety, hot diggety dog
      ‎lick + ‎-ety → ‎lickety, lickety-split

References[edit]

  1. ^ “-ity, suffix”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2020.
  2. ^ “-ety, suffix”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, November 2010.

See also[edit]

English terms suffixed with -ety

Anagrams[edit]

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