ish
The ROOT-WORD is the Suffix ISH. It means ORIGIN as in No. 11, IrISH; NATURE, as in No.10, amateurish, RESEMBLING, as in No.9, clownISH. In the last two there is an uncomplimentary element. Usually ISH makes adjectives of nouns. Sometimes verbs have this Suffix for no apparent reason, as perISH, nourISH, etc.
1. Boorish :boor ISH (boor’ ish) adj.
A lout; a churl; as, a boorish man
2. Ghoulish :ghoul ISH (gu’ lish) adj.
Like a ghoul
3. Brutish :brut ISH (brut’ ish) adj.
Like a brute; rough
4. Foolish :fool ISH (foo’ lish) adj.
Like a fool; somewhat ridiculous
5. Waspish :wasp ISH (was’ pish) adj.
Sharp; stinging; as, a waspish tongue
6. Womanish :woman ISH (wom’ a nish) adj.
Like a woman; feminine
7. Scottish :Scott ISH (skot’ ish) adj.
Native of Scotland
8. Childish :child ISH (chile’ dish) adj.
Like a clown; somewhat silly or foolish
10. Amateurish :amateur ISH (am a tur’ ish) adj.
Like an amateur; a nonprofessional
11. Irish :Ir ISH (ire; ish) adj.
Inclined to reading; as, a bookish fellow
12. Bookish :book ISH (book’ ish) adj.
Inclined to reading; as, a bookish fellow
13. Swedish :Swed ISH (swede’ ish) adj.
Native of Sweden
Go to the Etymology Index Page.
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