English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

    Variant spelling of -y.

    Pronunciation

    edit

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie

    1. Forming diminutive or affectionate forms of nouns or names.
      • 1869, Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl:
        "Polly, I wish you 'd let me call you Marie," said Fanny one day, as they were shopping together.
        "You may call me Mary, if you like; but I won't have any ie put on to my name. I'm Polly at home and I'm fond of being called so; but Marie is Frenchified and silly."
        "I spell my own name with an ie, and so do all the girls."
        "And what a jumble of Netties, Nellies, Hatties, and Sallies there is. How 'Pollie' would look spelt so!"
      deardearie
      sweetsweetie
      smilesmilie (also smiley)
      CatherineCathie (also Cathi, Cathy); KatherineKathie (also Kathi, Kathy)
      BillBillie (also Billi, Billy)
    2. (occasionally derogatory) Forming colloquial nouns signifying the person associated with suffixed noun or verb.
      bikebikie
      roadroadie
      surfsurfie
      towntownie
    3. Obsolete spelling of -y.

    Usage notes

    edit

    The -ie spelling is more common than -y when used to create words for people. Thus hippie is preferred over hippy.

    Derived terms

    edit

    Translations

    edit

    Anagrams

    edit

    Afrikaans

    edit

    Alternative forms

    edit

    Etymology

    edit

    From Dutch -je.

    Pronunciation

    edit
    • IPA(key): /i/
    • Audio:(file)

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie (plural -ies)

    1. Forms a diminutive noun

    Usage notes

    edit
    • The suffix -ie is used in nouns that end in -b, -f, -g, -k, -p, -s. Nouns ending in other sounds use one of the alternative forms above.

    Czech

    edit

    Pronunciation

    edit

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie f (noun-forming suffix)

    1. a suffix denoting a branch of science or study, similar to -ics
      Synonym: -ika

    Derived terms

    edit

    See also

    edit

    Further reading

    edit

    Dutch

    edit

    Etymology 1

    edit

    From Middle Dutch -ie, ultimately from Latin -ia.

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie f

    1. a variant of -ij
    Derived terms
    edit

    Etymology 2

    edit

    Ultimately from Latin -iō.

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie f

    1. -ion, -y
    Derived terms
    edit

    Etymology 3

    edit

    An alteration of je in popular speech.

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie n

    1. (Netherlands, informal) a variant of -je, a suffix forming diminutive nouns and informal adjectives
    Derived terms
    edit

    French

    edit

    Etymology

    edit

    Borrowed from Latin -ia, a suffix used to create abstract nouns, and from Ancient Greek -ία (-ía), -εια (-eia).

    Pronunciation

    edit

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie f (plural -ies)

    1. indicates a feminine noun, often an abstract one

    Derived terms

    edit

    Further reading

    edit

    German

    edit

    Etymology

    edit

    Borrowed from or influenced by French -ie. Replaces Latin -ia in modern loans. Doublet of -ei.

    Pronunciation

    edit

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie f (plural -ien)

    1. Designates a feminine, usually abstract noun, from Latin or French roots.

    Usage notes

    edit

    In the abstract noun sense, the plural is usually rarely used.

    Derived terms

    edit

    Latin

    edit

    Suffix

    edit

    -ie

    1. vocative masculine singular of -ius

    Middle English

    edit

    Etymology 1

    edit

      Borrowed from Old French -ie, from Latin -ia.

      Alternative forms

      edit

      Suffix

      edit

      -ie

      1. A suffix designating abstract or collective nouns, typically of French or Latin origin.
      Derived terms
      edit
      Descendants
      edit
      • English: -y, -ie

      References

      edit

      Etymology 2

      edit

      Suffix

      edit

      -ie

      1. Alternative form of -y

      Etymology 3

      edit

      Suffix

      edit

      -ie

      1. Alternative form of -yf

      Middle French

      edit

      Suffix

      edit

      -ie

      1. indicates a feminine noun, often an abstract one

      Derived terms

      edit

      Descendants

      edit

      Middle High German

      edit

      Etymology

      edit

      Borrowed from Old French -ie, from Latin -ia.

      Suffix

      edit

      -īe f

      1. used to create female abstract nouns

      Descendants

      edit

      Old English

      edit

      Suffix

      edit

      -ie

      1. Alternative form of -iġe

      Old French

      edit

        Etymology

        edit

        From Latin -ia; compare -erie.

        Suffix

        edit

        -ie

        1. indicates a feminine noun, often an abstract one

        Derived terms

        edit

        Descendants

        edit
        • Middle French: -ie
        • Middle High German: -ie
        • Middle English: -ie

        Old Polish

        edit

        Etymology

        edit

        (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

        Pronunciation

        edit

        Suffix

        edit

        -ie

        1. forms adverbs from adjectives
          niewymowny + ‎-ie → ‎niewymownie

        Derived terms

        edit

        Descendants

        edit

        See also

        edit

        Polish

        edit

        Alternative forms

        edit

        Etymology

        edit

        Inherited from Old Polish -ie.

        Pronunciation

        edit
        • IPA(key): /ˈjɛ/
        • Rhymes:
        • Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]

        Suffix

        edit

        -ie

        1. forms adverbs from adjectives
          wybitny + ‎-ie → ‎wybitnie

        Derived terms

        edit

        See also

        edit

        Romanian

        edit

        Etymology

        edit

        Probably from Latin -īlia, neuter plural of -īlis. Less likely from Latin -ia. Compare Aromanian -ilji, -ilje.

        Pronunciation

        edit

        Suffix

        edit

        -ie f (plural -ii)

        1. Used with a stem to create a (usually abstract) noun relating to it; can be compared to -ship, -hood, -ness, -ity, etc.

        Declension

        edit
        singular plural
        indefinite definite indefinite definite
        nominative-accusative -ie -ia -ii -iile
        genitive-dative -ii -iei -ii -iilor
        vocative -ie, -io -iilor

        Derived terms

        edit

        See also

        edit

        Scots

        edit

        Alternative forms

        edit

        Etymology

        edit

        From Middle English -y, from Old English -iġ, from Proto-West Germanic *-g.

        Suffix

        edit

        -ie

        1. Designates an adjective, in many cases formed by being appended to a noun.

        References

        edit