-cy

See also: Appendix:Variations of "cy"

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman -cie, ultimately from Latin -cia, -tia, Ancient Greek -κια (-kia), -τια (-tia), originally variants of Latin -ia and Ancient Greek -ια (-ia), -ία (-ía) or -εια (-eia). Original loan words like pharmacy and papacy could have formed the model.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-si/

Suffix

-cy

1. (non-productive) Used to form nouns of state, condition or quality e.g. obstinacy.
2. (non-productive) Used to form nouns of rank or office e.g. abbacy.

Usage notes

In sense of a state, a condition, often replaces a terminal -t, as in pregnancy (from pregnant). Exceptions include normalcy (no terminal -t in normal) and bankruptcy (terminal -t in bankrupt retained).

Synonyms

• (office): -ate

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -cy

Translations

used to form nouns of state, condition or quality e.g. obstinacy

Galician: -cia f Hungarian: -ság/-ség, -ás/-és, -s, -cia Italian: -aggine Malay: -si Portuguese: -idade (pt) f

Anagrams

• YC