Vocabulary List 2 - Suffixes

W
ord endings that are added to the main part, or root, of words are called suffixes. Suffixes are word
parts that signal how a word is being used in a sentence. Suffixes often change the part of speech of
a word.
For example, take a look at the word deferment from this chapter’s vocabulary list. Deferment is a noun that
means a postponement. If the suffix (-ment) is removed, the word becomes defer, and it is used as a verb that means
to postpone.
As a verb, it appears as defer:
I will defer the payment until next month.
As a noun, it appears as it is:
The bank gave him a deferment.
As an adjective, it appears as deferred:
The deferred payment is due in one month.
CHAPTER
Vocabulary List 2:
Suffixes
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Just as a movie director must check each part of a movie set in order
to make sure it’s functioning correctly, readers must check each part of
a word in order to analyze its meaning. And similarly, just as the end of
a movie is as important as its beginning, a word ending plays an impor-
tant role in determining its part of speech.
5
45

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VOCABULARY LIST 2: SUFFIXES
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47
1342
657

8 9
1211
10
14
15
16
13
Across
4 to correct, make
right
6 uselessness
11 praiseworthy
13 change, variation
15 to honor
16 obscure, secret
Down
1 perfect, complete,
accomplished
2 bountiful
3 delay
4 unceasing
5 irritating, stirring
into action
7 to make worse
8 practicality
9 childish
10 stealthy
12 prejudice,
intolerance
14 equality

Choose the word from the Vocabulary List that best fits into the crossword puzzle. You will use 17 of the words
from the Vocabulary List to solve the puzzle. You can check your answers at the end of the chapter following
the answers to the questions.
Vocabulary List 2: Suffixes
bigotry
consummate
copious
cryptic
deferment
exacerbate
etymology
furtive
laudable
mutation
obsolescence
parity
pragmatism
protagonist
provocative
puerile
rectify
relentless
satirize
venerate

The table above shows the suffixes that are used in
this Vocabulary List. They are divided into the parts of
speech, or the “jobs” they suggest for the words. Other
words that contain those suffixes are listed. In the last
column, add at least one other word that uses the suf-

fix, besides the one in today’s Vocabulary List.
agrarian (ə·rer·e¯ ·ən)
suffix: -ian means one who is or does
(adj.)
having to do with agriculture or farming
The farmer loved his life.
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VOCABULARY LIST 2: SUFFIXES
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49
NOUN ENDINGS
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLES
-tion act or state of benefaction, conservation
-ment quality comportment, indictment
-ist one who archaeologist, biologist
-ism state or doctrine of absolutism, altruism
-ity state of being sanity, scarcity
-ology study of theology
-escence state of acquiescence
-y, -ary act or state of flattery, commentary
ADJECTIVE ENDINGS
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLES
-able capable dependable, believable
-ic causing, making eccentric, optimistic
-ian one who is or does politician, statistician
-ile pertaining to reptile, fertile
-ious having the quality of delicious, superstitious
-ive having the nature of decisive, incisive
-less without senseless, painless
VERB ENDINGS

SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLES
-ize to bring about aggrandize, monopolize
-ate to make operate, translate
-ify to make verify, magnify