German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German -sam, from Old High German -sam, from Proto-West Germanic *-sam, from Proto-Germanic *-samaz, from Proto-Germanic *samaz, from Proto-Indo-European *somHós. Cognate with English -some and Dutch -zaam. Related also to Old High German samo (the same) and sama (similary).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /zaːm/ (standard)
  • IPA(key): /zam/ (regional; including western Germany)
  • (file)

Suffix edit

-sam

  1. Used to form adjectives from verbs, nouns, and other adjectives; expressing similarity or the possession of a quality.
    Tugend (virtue) + ‎-sam → ‎tugendsam (of virtue, virtuous)
    aufmerken (to observe) + ‎-sam → ‎aufmerksam (observant, attentive)
    lang (long, lengthy) + ‎-sam → ‎langsam (slow)
  2. Used to form adjectives from verbs; expressing the ability to undergo some action.
    Synonyms: -bar, -abel
    biegen (to bend) + ‎-sam → ‎biegsam (flexible, bendable)

Usage notes edit

  • The suffix is now of very limited productivity at most.

Derived terms edit

Latin edit

Suffix edit

-sam

  1. accusative feminine singular of -sus

Norwegian Nynorsk edit

Etymology edit

From Old Norse -samr.

Suffix edit

-sam

  1. used to form adjectives

Derived terms edit

References edit

Swedish edit

Etymology edit

From Old Norse -samr, from Proto-Germanic *-samaz, a suffix form of *samaz (same).

Suffix edit

-sam

  1. -some; creating adjectives, mostly out of nouns

Derived terms edit

See also edit

References edit

  • -sam in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)

Anagrams edit