ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWord partsSuffixes
Suffixes25 word endings
Suffixes for the ISEE and SSAT
25 word endings and what each one does to a word — with the deck words built on it, the breakdown of each, and the look-alikes that only seem to end the same way.
-able/-ible-al-ance/-ence-ary/-ory-ate-cide-en-ful-ic-ify-ism-ist-ity-ive-ize-less-ment-ness-ology-ous-phobia-tion/-sion-tude-ure-ward
-able/-ible — turns a verb into an adjective meaning capable of, fit to be, or worthy of the action
Latin -ābilis marked capability: washable cloth can be washed, adaptable plans can adapt, and reversible changes can be reversed.
Words built from it
- adaptable — able to adjust to new conditions
adapt + -able (capable of) - avoidable — capable of being prevented
avoid + -able (capable of being) - readable — clear or interesting enough to read
read + -able (capable of being) - washable — safe or suitable to wash
wash + -able (capable of being) - defensible — able to be protected or justified
defens (defend) + -ible (capable of being) - credible — worthy of belief
cred (believe) + -ible (worthy of being) - reversible — capable of being changed back
re- (back) + vers (turn) + -ible (capable of being)
Looks like it, but is not
- disabled — from dis- + able + -ed; able came from Latin habilis 'fit,' not -able
-al — turns a noun or root into an adjective meaning related to or characterized by it
Latin -alis meant belonging to: annual returns belong to a year, regional customs to a region, and cordial warmth to the heart.
Words built from it
- natural — existing in nature rather than made artificially
natur- (birth or nature) + -al (related to) - annual — happening once every year
annu- (year) + -al (related to) - regional — connected with a particular area
region + -al (related to) - cordial — warm and friendly
cord- (heart) + -ial (characterized by) - filial — relating to a child's duties or feelings toward a parent
fili- (son or child) + -al (related to) - proverbial — connected with a proverb or widely known
proverb + -ial (related to)
Looks like it, but is not
- valuable — formed from value + -able; its 'al' belongs to value, not the -al suffix
-ance/-ence — Turns a verb or adjective into a noun naming a state, quality, or act.
Latin noun endings named states: indigence means being needy, reluctance means holding back, and acquiescence means giving quiet agreement.
Words built from it
- indigence — Poverty severe enough to lack basic necessities.
indig (need) + -ence (state) - acquiescence — Quiet acceptance without protest.
ac- (toward; form of ad-) + quiesc (rest) + -ence (state) - reluctance — Unwillingness or hesitation.
re- (against) + luct (struggle) + -ance (state) - exuberance — Abundant energy, enthusiasm, or growth.
ex- (out) + uber (abundant) + -ance (state) - diligence — Steady, careful effort.
dilig (take care over) + -ence (quality) - defiance — Open resistance to an order or authority.
defy + -ance (act) - vacancy — An empty space or an unfilled position.
vac (be empty) + -ancy (state) - urgency — The need for immediate attention or action.
urg (press) + -ency (state)
Looks like it, but is not
- romance — From Old French romanz, referring to the vernacular language, ultimately Latin romanice, meaning in the Roman manner; it does not contain the noun suffix -ance.
-ary/-ory — Makes adjectives meaning relating to, or nouns for associated people, things, or places.
Latin -arius marked association: an epistolary novel uses letters, an auxiliary gives help, and a tributary supplies tribute or water.
Words built from it
- epistolary — Related to letters, especially a story told through letters.
epistol (letter) + -ary (relating to) - desultory — Moving between subjects or activities without a steady plan.
de- (down) + sult (leap) + -ory (relating to) - peremptory — Insisting on obedience or acceptance without discussion.
per- (completely) + empt (take) + -ory (relating to) - tributary — A stream that feeds a larger river; also, paying tribute.
tribut (tribute) + -ary (relating to) - sedentary — Involving much sitting and little physical movement.
sedent (sitting) + -ary (relating to) - arbitrary — Based on personal choice rather than a consistent rule or reason.
arbitr (judge) + -ary (relating to) - auxiliary — Providing extra help or support.
auxili (help) + -ary (relating to)
Looks like it, but is not
- category — From Greek kategoria, originally accusation or predication, through French catégorie; its final letters do not represent Latin -ory.
-ate — Makes verbs meaning to make or perform, or adjectives and nouns describing a state or role.
Latin -atus shaped English endings: liberate sets someone free, consolidate makes things solid, and obdurate describes a hardened will.
Words built from it
- activate — Make something start working.
active + -ate (make) - regulate — Control something through rules or adjustments.
regul (rule) + -ate (perform) - consolidate — Combine things into a stronger or more unified whole.
con- (together) + solid (firm) + -ate (make) - alienate — Make someone feel distant or unwelcome.
alien (belonging to another) + -ate (make) - liberate — Set someone or something free.
liber (free) + -ate (make) - obdurate — Stubbornly refusing to change or show sympathy.
ob- (against) + dur (hard) + -ate (made) - abrogate — Officially abolish a law or agreement.
ab- (away) + rog (propose a law) + -ate (perform)
Looks like it, but is not
- pirate — Ends in ate, but comes from Greek peirates (one who attacks), from peiran (to attempt); the ending is not the Latin suffix.
-cide — forms words naming an act of killing or the person or substance that kills
Latin caedere meant cut down or kill; homicide names human killing, regicide a ruler's killing, and pesticide the killing of pests.
Words built from it
- homicide — the killing of one person by another
homi- (human) + -cide (killing) - suicide — the act of intentionally killing oneself
sui- (oneself) + -cide (killing) - genocide — the deliberate destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group
geno- (race or people) + -cide (killing) - pesticide — a substance used to kill pests
pest (harmful creature or plant) + -cide (killer) - regicide — the killing of a monarch, or the person responsible
regi- (king or ruler) + -cide (killing or killer) - fratricide — the killing of one's brother
fratri- (brother) + -cide (killing)
Looks like it, but is not
- accident — from Latin accidere 'happen, fall upon,' not the killing suffix
-en — turns an adjective or noun into a verb meaning to make or become that quality
Old English -nian made changes happen: harden becomes hard, widen grows wide, and strengthen gives something strength.
Words built from it
- harden — to make or become hard
hard + -en (make or become) - widen — to make or become wider
wide + -en (make or become) - deepen — to make or become deeper
deep + -en (make or become) - darken — to make or become dark
dark + -en (make or become) - shorten — to make or become shorter
short + -en (make or become) - strengthen — to make or become stronger
strength + -en (give or gain) - soften — to make or become softer
soft + -en (make or become)
Looks like it, but is not
- listen — from Old English hlysnan 'listen', not the verb-forming -en suffix
- screen — from the noun screen, via Old French escren, not the verb-forming -en suffix
- burden — from Old English byrthen 'load', not the verb-forming -en suffix
-ful — turns a noun into an adjective meaning full of or strongly marked by it
Old English -full meant full of: hopeful eyes hold hope, careful hands show care, and resourceful minds find resources.
Words built from it
- hopeful — feeling or inspiring hope
hope + -ful (full of or marked by) - careful — giving close attention to avoid mistakes or harm
care + -ful (full of or marked by) - resourceful — skilled at finding clever ways to solve problems
resource + -ful (full of or marked by) - graceful — moving or appearing with smooth elegance
grace + -ful (full of or marked by) - spiteful — wanting to hurt or upset someone
spite + -ful (full of or marked by) - doubtful — uncertain or unlikely
doubt + -ful (full of or marked by)
-ic — turns a noun into an adjective meaning related to or characterized by it
Greek -ikos marked relation: civic duties concern citizens, poetic lines concern poets, and periodic events follow periods.
Words built from it
- civic — related to a city, community, or citizenship
civ- (citizen) + -ic (related to) - poetic — related to poetry or having the qualities of poetry
poet- (maker, poet) + -ic (related to) - periodic — occurring in repeated cycles or intervals
period (cycle) + -ic (related to) - heroic — Showing great courage or the qualities of a hero.
hero + -ic (relating to) - volcanic — Relating to or produced by a volcano.
volcano + -ic (relating to) - symbolic — Representing something through a sign, image, or action.
symbol + -ic (relating to)
Looks like it, but is not
- delicious — from Latin deliciosus 'delightful' through French, not the Greek -ic suffix
-ify — turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning make or cause to become
Latin facere, to make, became -ify: clarify makes clear, purify makes pure, and solidify makes solid.
Words built from it
- clarify — to make an idea or statement clearer
clar- (clear) + -ify (make) - purify — to remove impurities and make clean
pur- (clean) + -ify (make) - solidify — to make or become solid or firmly established
solid (firm) + -ify (make or become) - classify — to arrange things into categories
class (group or category) + -ify (arrange as) - magnify — to make something appear larger or more important
magn- (great) + -ify (make)
-ism — turns an idea or practice into a noun naming a doctrine, system, practice, or characteristic behavior
Greek -ismos named a practice or doctrine: optimism expects good, realism faces reality, and capitalism organizes wealth around capital.
Words built from it
- optimism — a tendency to expect favorable results
optim- (best) + -ism (outlook or doctrine) - realism — an outlook that accepts reality as it is
real (actual) + -ism (outlook or practice) - capitalism — an economic system based on private ownership and investment for profit
capital (wealth used to produce more wealth) + -ism (economic system) - heroism — remarkable courage or self-sacrifice
hero (brave person) + -ism (characteristic conduct) - tourism — Travel for pleasure and the business of serving those travelers.
tour (a journey or trip) + -ism (practice) - vandalism — Deliberate damage to or destruction of property.
vandal (a person who deliberately damages property) + -ism (characteristic conduct)
Looks like it, but is not
- dismissal — from dismiss + -al, ultimately Latin dis- 'apart' + mittere 'send,' not -ism
- prism — from Greek prisma 'something sawed,' not the -ism suffix
-ist — turns a field, practice, or belief into a noun for a person associated with it
Greek -istēs named a doer: an artist makes art, a novelist writes novels, and a realist faces reality.
Words built from it
- artist — a person who creates art
art (skill or creative work) + -ist (practitioner) - novelist — a person who writes novels
novel (long fictional work) + -ist (practitioner) - realist — a person who accepts situations as they actually are
real (actual) + -ist (adherent) - abolitionist — a person who campaigns to abolish an institution, especially slavery
abolition (ending an institution) + -ist (supporter) - journalist — A person who gathers and reports news.
journal (a daily record or newspaper) + -ist (practitioner) - violinist — A person who plays the violin.
violin (a bowed string instrument) + -ist (practitioner)
Looks like it, but is not
- minister — from Latin minister 'servant'; its 'ist' is part of the root, not -ist
-ity — turns an adjective or root into a noun naming a state or quality
Latin -itas named a state or quality: serenity is calmness, acuity is sharpness, and integrity is wholeness.
Words built from it
- serenity — a state of calmness
seren- (calm) + -ity (state or quality) - acuity — sharpness of thought, sight, or hearing
acu- (sharp) + -ity (state or quality) - integrity — honesty and firm moral principles
integr- (whole or untouched) + -ity (state or quality) - adversity — hardship or an unfavorable condition
advers- (turned against) + -ity (state or condition) - brevity — shortness in time or expression
brev- (short) + -ity (state or quality) - ferocity — savage fierceness
feroc- (fierce) + -ity (state or quality)
-ive — turns a verb or root into an adjective meaning tending to, able to, or serving to do it
Latin -ivus marked tendency or function: persuasive words persuade, defensive walls defend, and a retentive memory keeps what it receives.
Words built from it
- constructive — helpful and intended to improve something
construct- (build together) + -ive (tending or serving to) - defensive — intended to protect against attack or criticism
defens- (ward off) + -ive (serving to) - persuasive — able to convince someone
persuas- (convince) + -ive (able or tending to) - assertive — confident in expressing needs or opinions
assert- (state firmly) + -ive (tending to) - pensive — deeply thoughtful, often with sadness
pens- (weigh or think) + -ive (tending to) - retentive — able to keep information or material
retent- (hold or keep) + -ive (able to)
Looks like it, but is not
- alive — from Old English on life 'in life,' not the Latin -ive suffix
- diverse — from Latin diversus 'turned different ways,' not the -ive suffix
-ize — turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning make, become, or treat in that way
Greek -izein meant to make or do: modernize makes modern, civilize makes civil, and crystallize forms crystals.
Words built from it
- modernize — to update something to current methods or standards
modern (current) + -ize (make) - civilize — to bring toward an organized society or socially refined behavior
civil (socially organized or courteous) + -ize (make) - crystallize — to form into crystals or take definite shape
crystal (regular solid form) + -ize (form or become) - standardize — to make things follow a consistent model
standard (accepted model) + -ize (make) - fossilize — to become a fossil or become rigidly outdated
fossil (preserved remains) + -ize (become)
Looks like it, but is not
- prize — from Old French prise 'a taking or capture,' not the -ize suffix
-less — turns a noun into an adjective meaning without or lacking it
Old English -lēas meant without: fearless climbers lack fear, tireless walkers seem without fatigue, and heedless drivers show no heed.
Words built from it
- fearless — showing no fear
fear + -less (without) - tireless — showing great energy without seeming to become tired
tire (become weary) + -less (without) - heedless — failing to pay attention
heed + -less (without) - endless — having or seeming to have no end
end + -less (without) - speechless — temporarily unable to speak, often from surprise
speech + -less (without) - harmless — unlikely or unable to cause harm
harm + -less (without)
Looks like it, but is not
- blessed — from bless + -ed; bless is Old English bletsian 'to consecrate,' not -less
- lesser — from less + -er; less is from Old English læssa, not the suffix -less
-ment — turns a verb into a noun naming the action, result, or means
Latin -mentum named a result or means: achievement marks achieving, adjustment follows adjusting, and an instrument serves a task.
Words built from it
- achievement — something successfully accomplished
achieve + -ment (act or result) - adjustment — a change made to improve a fit or situation
adjust + -ment (act or result) - government — the system or group that governs
govern + -ment (action or system) - nourishment — food or support that promotes growth
nourish + -ment (act or result) - instrument — a tool used to perform a task
instru- (equip or build) + -ment (means) - monument — a structure that preserves a memory
mon- (remind) + -ment (means or result)
Looks like it, but is not
- element — It comes from Latin elementum, whose final letters are not the suffix -ment.
-ness — turns an adjective into a noun naming its state, condition, or quality
Old English -nes named a state: kindness is being kind, darkness is being dark, and readiness is being ready.
Words built from it
- kindness — the quality of being caring and helpful
kind + -ness (state or quality) - darkness — the condition of having little or no light
dark + -ness (state or condition) - readiness — the state of being prepared
ready + -ness (state or condition) - awareness — knowledge or recognition of something
aware + -ness (state or condition) - stubbornness — an unwillingness to change one's mind
stubborn + -ness (state or quality) - loneliness — sadness caused by feeling alone
lonely + -ness (state or condition)
Looks like it, but is not
- harness — It comes through French from Old Norse and originally meant equipment or armor; its ending is not -ness.
- lioness — It is lion + -ess, the suffix for a female; the final n belongs to lion, so it does not contain -ness as a suffix.
-ology — turns a subject into the name of its study or body of knowledge
Greek logia meant discourse or study: biology studies life, geology studies Earth, and chronology puts time into an ordered account.
Words built from it
- biology — the study of living things
bio- (life) + -logy (study of) - geology — the study of Earth, its rocks, and its history
geo- (Earth) + -logy (study of) - theology — the study of God and religious belief
theo- (god) + -logy (study or discourse) - psychology — the study of the mind and behavior
psych- (mind or soul) + -ology (study of) - chronology — the arrangement of events in time order
chrono- (time) + -logy (account or study) - etymology — the study of word origins and histories
etymo- (true sense of a word) + -logy (study of)
-ous — turns a noun or root into an adjective meaning full of, having, or characterized by it
Latin -osus meant full of: spacious rooms hold space, copious notes abound, and curious minds once were full of care.
Words built from it
- dangerous — likely to cause harm
danger + -ous (characterized by) - courageous — showing bravery
courage + -ous (having) - spacious — having abundant room
spati- (space) + -ous (full of) - copious — abundant in amount
copi- (abundance) + -ous (full of) - venomous — containing or producing poison
venom + -ous (having) - curious — eager to know or learn
curi- (care) + -ous (full of)
Looks like it, but is not
- righteous — from Old English rihtwis 'just,' later respelled; not the Latin -ous suffix
-phobia — names an intense fear of or aversion to the thing named
Greek phobos meant fear: claustrophobia names fear of enclosed rooms, acrophobia of heights, and technophobia of technology.
Words built from it
- claustrophobia — an intense fear of enclosed spaces
claustro- (enclosed space, from Latin claustrum) + -phobia (fear, from Greek phobos) - xenophobia — fear of or hostility toward foreigners or people seen as outsiders
xeno- (stranger or foreigner, from Greek xenos) + -phobia (fear or aversion, from phobos) - agoraphobia — an intense fear of situations where escape or getting help may feel difficult
agora- (marketplace or public gathering place, from Greek agora) + -phobia (fear, from phobos) - acrophobia — an intense fear of heights
acro- (height or summit, from Greek akron) + -phobia (fear, from phobos) - arachnophobia — an intense fear of spiders
arachno- (spider, from Greek arachne) + -phobia (fear, from phobos) - technophobia — fear or strong dislike of technology
techno- (technology, ultimately from Greek techne, art or skill) + -phobia (fear or aversion, from phobos)
-tion/-sion — turns a verb into a noun naming an action, process, or result
Latin -tiō named an act or result: creation is creating made noun, expansion is expanding, and admission is admitting.
Words built from it
- creation — the act of making something new, or what is made
create + -tion (action or result) - expansion — the process of becoming larger
expand + -sion (action or result) - persuasion — the act of convincing someone
persuade + -sion (action or result) - observation — the act of watching carefully, or something noticed
observe + -ation (action or result) - declaration — a formal or definite statement
declare + -ation (action or result) - admission — an acknowledgment or permission to enter
admit + -sion (action or result)
Looks like it, but is not
- bastion — From French bastion, through Italian bastione (fortification). Its ending is not the action-noun suffix -tion.
-tude — turns an adjective into a noun naming a state or quality
Latin -tudo names a condition: altitude measures being high, solitude means being alone, and gratitude expresses being thankful.
Words built from it
- altitude — height above sea level or another reference point
alt (high) + -tude (state or quality) - latitude — distance north or south of the equator; also, freedom of choice
lat (broad) + -tude (state or quality) - longitude — distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees
long (long) + -tude (state or quality) - gratitude — thankfulness
grat (thankful) + -tude (state or quality) - solitude — the state of being alone
sol (alone) + -tude (state or quality) - fortitude — courage and strength during difficulty
fort (strong) + -tude (state or quality) - magnitude — great size, extent, or importance
magn (great) + -tude (state or quality) - aptitude — a natural ability or capacity for learning something
apt (fit; suitable) + -tude (state or quality)
Looks like it, but is not
- etude — Ends in tude, but comes from French etude (a study), from Latin studium (zeal, application); those letters are not the suffix.
-ure — Turns a verb into a noun naming an act, result, or state.
Latin -ura named acts and results: a fracture comes from breaking, a closure from shutting, and texture from weaving.
Words built from it
- censure — Strong, often official criticism.
cens (judge) + -ure (act) - conjecture — An explanation or conclusion based on incomplete evidence.
con- (together) + ject (throw) + -ure (result) - juncture — A point where things meet, or a particular stage in events.
junct (join) + -ure (result) - closure — The act of closing or bringing something to an end.
clos (shut) + -ure (act) - exposure — The state of being uncovered, revealed, or subjected to something.
expose + -ure (state) - fracture — A break or crack in a hard material.
fract (break) + -ure (result) - texture — The structure or surface feel of a material.
text (weave) + -ure (result)
Looks like it, but is not
- leisure — From Old French leisir, an infinitive meaning to be permitted, ultimately Latin licere; its ending is not the noun suffix -ure.
-ward — turns a place or direction into a word showing movement or orientation that way
Old English -weard pointed a direction: travelers went homeward, glanced backward, then climbed upward while the road bent northward.
Words built from it
- inward — toward the inside
in (inside) + -ward (in the direction of) - outward — toward the outside
out (outside) + -ward (in the direction of) - upward — toward a higher place or level
up (higher) + -ward (in the direction of) - downward — toward a lower place or level
down (lower) + -ward (in the direction of) - homeward — toward home
home + -ward (in the direction of) - northward — toward the north
north + -ward (in the direction of) - backwards — toward the back or in reverse
back + -wards (in the direction of)
Looks like it, but is not
- coward — from Old French coart, built from 'tail' plus -ard, not directional -ward