suffix

Where does the word "suffix" come from? It comes from Latin figere, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Suffix’s story begins in Latin: figere meant “to fix, to fasten.” To fix, to fasten, combined with sub- (underneath). Within Latin, it grew into suffigere by ancient. To fasten underneath, from sub- and figere. It reached English by 1600s as suffix. Settled as the English word for letters added to the end of a word. Today, suffix means a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or form.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient figere "to fix, to fasten", to fix, to fasten, combined with sub- (underneath).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient suffigere "to fasten underneath", to fasten underneath, from sub- and figere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s suffix "letters or a syllable added to the end of a word", settled as the English word for letters added to the end of a word.