Greek Etymology: Suffixes and Combining Forms

Pertaining to, likeex:DESPOT- (absolute ruler) + -ic = despoticepi- + DEM- (people) + -ic = epidemicCARDI- (heart) + -ac = cardiacSTA- (to stand) + -tic = static

Art, science, or study ofex:ETH- (custom) + -ics = ethicsPHYS- (nature) + -ics = physicsGENE- (to be produced) + -tics = genetics
(This was originally the plural form of the previous suffix and mean "things pertaining to," but words which exhibit this suffix are usually treated as singular; e.g., "Modern physics is a rapidly advancing science.")

Like, having the shape ofex:ADEN- (gland) + -oid = adenoidSPHER- (ball) + -oid = spheroid

Pertaining to, like, belonging to, having the character ofadjective-forming suffix
ex:IDE- (idea) + -al = idealdia- + GON- (angle) + -al = diagonalETH- (custom) + -ic + -al = ethical

Pertaining to, like, one concerned withadjective-forming suffix
ex:BARBAR- (foreign) + -ian = barbarianTHE(o)- (god) + -logy + -an = theologian

Full of, pertaining to, likeadjective-forming suffix
ex:BARBAR- (foreign) + -ous = barbarousamphi- + BI- (life) + -ous = amphibiousan- + ONYM- (name) + -ous = anonymous

Specialist in, practitioner ornoun-forming suffixex:TECHN- (art, skill) + -ician = technicianELECTR- (electricity) + -ician = electricianTACT- (to arrange) + -ician = tactician
(this suffix in actually a compund of -ic, or -ics and -ian.)

Belief in, practice of, condition ofnoun-forming suffixex:COMMUN- (common) + -ism = communismDESPOT- (absolute ruler) + -ism = despotismant- + AGON- (struggle) + -ism = antagonismALCOHOL + -ism = alcoholism

One who believes in, one engaged innoun forming suffix
ex:COMMUN- (common) + -ist = communistant- + AGON- (struggle) + -ist = antagonist

One connected with, inhabitant of (also used to denote chemicals, minerals, etc.)noun-forming suffixex:SYBAR- + -ite = sybariteISRAEL- + -ite = IsraeliteDYNAM- (force) + -ite = dynamite(If this is followed by an additional suffix, the e disappears.)SYBAR- + -ite + -ic = sybaritic

One who doesnoun-forming suffix
ex:GYMN- (naked) + -ast = gymnasten- + THUS(i)- (THEOS) (god) + -ast = enthusiastana- + LY- (to loosen) + -st = analyst

He who, that whichnoun-forming suffixex:POE- (to make) + -t = poetpro- + PHE- (to speak) + -t = prophetATHLE- (to contend) + -te = athletePIRA- (to attempt) + -te = pirate

Quality of, state of, act ofnoun-forming suffixex:AGON- (to struggle) + -y = agonyPHIL- (to love) + ANTHROP- (man) + -y = philanthropyan- + (H)EM- (blood) + -ia = anemia

Result of, thing that is the result ofnoun-forming suffixex:DRA- (to do, to act) + -ma = dramapro- + BLE- (to put) + -m = problemdia- + DE- (to bing) + -m = diademTHE- (to place) + -me = themeIf this is followed by an additional suffix, it usually becomes -mat-.DRA- (to do, to act) + -mat- + -ic = dramaticpro- + BLE (to put) + -mat- + -ic = problematicTHE- (to place) + -mat- + -ic = thematic

Act of, state of, result ofnoun-forming suffixana- + LY- (to loosen) + -sis = analysisdia- + GNO- (to know) + -sis = diagnosisDO- (to give) + -se = doseAUT(o) (self) + OP- (to see) + -sy = autopsya- + MNE- (to remember) + -sia = amnesiaThe adjectival form of this suffix sometimes appears as -tic and sometimes as -stic.ana- + LY- (to loosen) + -tic = analyticdia- + GNO- (to know) + -stic = diagnostic