-x
English edit
Etymology 1 edit
Suffix edit
-x
- Used to represent a value that may vary: see x.
- I teach all of the 30x classes. (referring to classes numbered 301, 302, 303, etc)
See also edit
- x (as in Latinx, etc)
Etymology 2 edit
X is prototypically pronounced [ks] in English; it therefore serves as a convenient shorthand for the digraphs (cs, ks, etc.) or trigraphs (cks etc.) that would otherwise represent that consonant cluster.
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-x
- (chiefly US, informal) Used to replace a /ks/ sound, especially in monosyllabic words ending in -cks or -ks.
See also edit
Etymology 3 edit
Suffix edit
-x
- An abbreviation marker.
Etymology 4 edit
From the use of x as a neutral or nonspecific placeholder.
Suffix edit
-x
French edit
Etymology edit
From a medieval ligature for -us, which looked similar to the letter x and was ultimately treated as identical to it. Thus Old French voyeus (“vowel”) was also spelt voyex, for instance. Later on the u was reinserted before the -x and this latter thus became an alternative spelling of -s in said position.[1]
Pronunciation edit
- Silent, except in liaison environments, when it may be pronounced /z‿/. This liaison is usual in adjectives, but fairly rare in nouns.
Suffix edit
-x
- Used to form the regular plurals of nouns and adjectives in -au and -eu.
- dieu → dieux ― god → gods
- noyau → noyaux ― core → cores
- hébreu → hébreux ― Hebrew → Hebrews
- Used to form the irregular plurals of a few nouns in -ou (which regularly add -s).
- pou → poux ― louse → lice
Derived terms edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ A.H. Edgren: A compendious French grammar, Boston, 1890, p. 31
Maltese edit
Etymology edit
From Arabic شَيْء (šayʔ, “thing”). The same negation suffix is found in most North African and some Levantine dialects of Arabic.
Suffix edit
-x
- Used together with the particle ma to negate verbs and adverbs
- jikteb → ma jiktibx
- he writes → he doesn’t write
- Used on its own or with the particle la to express a negated imperative
- tikteb → tiktibx or: la tiktibx
- you write → don't write
Usage notes edit
Portuguese edit
Suffix edit
-x
Spanish edit
Suffix edit
-x m or f by sense (noun-forming suffix, plural -xs)
-x m or f (adjective-forming suffix, masculine and feminine plural -xs)
- (nonstandard, neologism) a gender-neutral suffix that replaces -o and -a in nouns, adjectives and pronouns