-nis

See also: nis, Nis, NIS, niś, niš, Niš, ñiś, and -niß

Contents

DutchEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Old Dutch -nissi, -nussi, from Proto-Germanic *-nassuz.

SuffixEdit

-nis f ‎(plural -nissen)

1. -ness

Usage notesEdit

The deverbal suffix -nis proved one of the most productive noun-forming suffixes in Dutch up until 16th century Dutch. It was a deverbal noun former and formed with verbal stems, infinitives or participles. Nowaydays, the suffix -nis “-ness” is either no longer productive or at most marginally productive.

Derived termsEdit

► Dutch words suffixed with -nis

ReferencesEdit

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GermanEdit

Alternative formsEdit

• -niß (obsolete)

EtymologyEdit

Cognate to English -ness, see -ness for more.

PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /nɪs/

SuffixEdit

-nis n ‎(genitive -nisses, plural -nisse)

1. A suffix for deriving nouns from verbs or adjectives.

   hindern ‎(“to hinder, to hamper”) → Hindernis ‎(“an obstacle”)

   geheim ‎(“secret”, adjective) → Geheimnis ‎(“a secret”, noun)

Derived termsEdit

Derived terms

Bekenntnis Ereignis Ergebnis Erlebnis Geheimnis Hindernis

Missverständnis Verhältnis Verhängnis Verzeichnis Zeugnis

SuffixEdit

-nis f ‎(genitive -nis, plural -nisse)

1. A suffix for deriving nouns from from verbs or adjectives, etymologically identical to the preceding.

   erlauben ‎(“to permit”) → Erlaubnis ‎(“permission”)

   finster ‎(“dark”) → Finsternis ‎(“darkness”)

Derived termsEdit

Derived terms

Befugnis Erkenntnis Erlaubnis Finsternis Kenntnis

Usage notesEdit

There is no perfect rule to determine whether a noun with the suffix -nis is neuter (→ suffix 1) or feminine (→ suffix 2). The former may be concrete or abstract, whereas the latter are almost exclusively abstract.

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Old EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

• -nes

SuffixEdit

-nis f

1. Used to form abstract nouns, usually from adjectives, denoting quality or state. See -nes