-ety
English
editEtymology 1
editApparently an alteration of -edy, as seen in jaggedy, raggedy, etc.; equivalent to -ed + -y. The alteration of -d- to -t- is perhaps due to Scottish influence, where it is common for the past participle of Scots verbs to end in -et/-it rather than -ed as in English.
Alternatively, perhaps imitative of repeated action.[1]
Alternative forms
editSuffix
edit-ety
- Added to monosyllabic words, typically nouns or adjectives, to extend their form.
- Often with frequentative force.
- jig + -ety → jiggety
- hip-hop + -ety → hippety-hoppety
- yack + -ety → yackety-yak
- Also seen in other fanciful compounds.
- dig + -ety → diggety, hot diggety dog
- lick + -ety → lickety, lickety-split
- Often with frequentative force.
Etymology 2
editCognate of -ity, ultimately from Latin -(i)tās.[2] See more at -ity.
Alternative forms
editSuffix
edit-ety
- Used to indicate qualities or states.
- contrary + -ety → contrariety
References
edit- ^ “-ety, suffix”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, November 2010.
- ^ “-ity, suffix”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2020.
