Building Science Vocabulary Word Parts: Suffixes

Suffix a word part added to the end of a word.

Suffixes -able, -ible capable of movable

Suffixes movable –adjective capable of being moved; not fixed in one place, position, or posture.

Suffixes -al of, relating to global

Suffixes global –adjective pertaining to the whole world; worldwide; universal: the dream of global peace.

Suffixes -ance, -ence action, state, or condition dependence

Suffixes dependence –noun the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like.

Suffixes -ate to act on or change saturate

Suffixes saturate –verb (used with object) to cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance, through solution, chemical combination, or the like.

Suffixes -d, -ed past tense formed

Suffixes formed –verb, intr. To become formed or shaped.

Suffixes -er, -or person who is or does teacher

Suffixes teacher –noun a person who teaches or instructs, esp. as a profession; instructor.

Suffixes -ful full of, having careful

Suffixes careful –adjective (of things) done or performed with accuracy or caution: careful research.

Suffixes -gram a written record seismogram

Suffixes seismogram –noun a record made by a seismograph.

Suffixes -graph something written or drawn autograph

Suffixes autograph –noun a person's own signature: He collects autographs of artists.

Suffixes -ic related to seismic

Suffixes seismic –adjective pertaining to, of the nature of, or caused by an earthquake or vibration of the earth, whether due to natural or artificial causes.

Suffixes -ify, -fy to make or cause to become solidify

Suffixes solidify –verb (used with object) to make solid; make into a hard or compact mass; change from a liquid or gaseous to a solid form.

Suffixes -ism the act, state, or theory of magnetism

Suffixes magnetism –noun the properties of attraction possessed by magnets; the molecular properties common to magnets.

Suffixes -ist person who is or does scientist

Suffixes scientist –noun an expert in science, esp. one of the physical or natural sciences.

Suffixes -ity, -ty degree of acidity

Suffixes acidity –noun the quality or state of being acid.

Suffixes -ive forms adjectives from verbs active

Suffixes active –adjective engaged in action; characterized by energetic work, participation, etc.; busy: an active life.