Suffixes that add meaning-ish and -like

Share on Facebook

Anonymous

#147042 Wed, 12 Oct 05 05:51 AM

Hi...

I've been thinking through this problem and would appreciate some input...

both suffixes -ish and -like turn a noun into an adjective, but there is a difference seen in the meanings each of them give to words. If one compares childish and childlike, it is obvious that childish has a more negative meaning to it (immature, silly) while childlike confers qualities like innocence. BUT if we consider "sheepish" and "sheeplike" i'm not sure whether the same meaning of "ish" and "like" are preserved.

Could anyone comment on the differences in meaning between "ish" and "like"??

thanks!!!!

Anonymous

Negatives, Nouns, Suffixes

paco2004

#147263 Wed, 12 Oct 05 08:49 PM

Hello

As you said -ish and -like are both used as a suffix to form an adjective from a noun. And you are quite right that -ish gives a negative sense to the adjective. OED says "X-ish" is usually an adjective to mean "having the [bad or objectionable] qualities of X" (e.g., boorish, foolish, swinish). But some words in the form "X-ish" are neutral in the sense depending on the context. For example, "womanish" means simply "belonging to women" in the noun phrase of "a womanish university". On the other hand, "X-like" is usually an adjective to mean "befitting X" or "resembling X". Some of "X-like" words developed into the form "X-ly". So, for example, we can say both "womanlike" and "womanly".

paco

paco2004

Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004

Senior Member (4,095)

In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

Negatives, Noun phrases, Nouns, Suffixes, Universities

Anonymous

#452220 Tue, 11 Dec 07 10:11 PM

STILL WHAT DOES ISH MEAN I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT AND YOU ARENT GIVIN ME ANY TYPE OF MEAN FOR THIS WORD AND I NEED IT BY FRIDAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous