-ish
(Old English: a suffix meaning, characteristic of, like, tending to; of or relating to, from; somewhat, approximately; or a verb ending)
A suffix used to form adjectives from nouns and from adjectives. It refers to "relation, resemblance, similarity", and sometimes has a diminutive force; such as, "selfish, boyish, brutish; whitish, somewhat white".
A verb ending, originally appearing in certain verbs of French origin; such as, "abolish, cherish, finish, furnish, garnish", and "impoverish".
abolish (uh BAHL ish) (verb), abolishes; abolished; abolishing
1. To eliminate altogether or to get rid of; to completely destroy: The school decided not to abolish the required physical education program.
4. Used especially in legal circles to indicate the annulment of a law: Compulsory military service in the United States has been abolished, so the services now have volunteers as members.
5. Etymology: borrowed from Middle French aboliss-, stem of abolir, "to abolish, to do away with"; a borrowing from Latin abolere, "to cause to die out, to retard the growth of" from ab- "from" + -adolere, "to grow, to nourish" and is said by some etymological sources to be related to adolescere, "to grow up".
The decision of the school principal to abolish cheerleaders during football games upset both parents and students.
The teacher abolished all the mathematical equations from the chalkboard when he wiped it clean.
People in Mark's neighborhood tried to abolish the noise made by other people's dogs during the night.
2. To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; said of laws, customs, institutions, governments, etc., such as to abolish slavery, to abolish illegal drugs: The edict from the mayor's office abolishes the requirement to license pets.Some people are trying to abolish the death penalty.
3. To put an end to, or to destroy; such as, physical objects; to wipe out: In his famous speech, the president abolished the use of the term "freaks" when referring to individuals with abnormalities in circuses and carnivals.4. Used especially in legal circles to indicate the annulment of a law: Compulsory military service in the United States has been abolished, so the services now have volunteers as members.
5. Etymology: borrowed from Middle French aboliss-, stem of abolir, "to abolish, to do away with"; a borrowing from Latin abolere, "to cause to die out, to retard the growth of" from ab- "from" + -adolere, "to grow, to nourish" and is said by some etymological sources to be related to adolescere, "to grow up".
accomplish (verb), accomplishes; accomplished; accomplishing
acutish (adjective), more acutish, most acutish
In botany, somewhat acute: In spring the buds on the rosebush were quite oval and ended in an acutish and almost pointed tip.
admonish (verb), admonishes; admonished; admonishing
1. To warn strongly; to put on guard: The crossing guard at the busy intersection admonished the pedestrians to look both ways before attempting to cross the street.
2. To counsel in terms of someone's behavior: The assistant principal of the school admonished the students about their noisy behavior in the library.
3. To advise a person to do or, more often, not to do something: The judge was admonishing both lawyers not to waste anymore court time with petty arguments.
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2. To counsel in terms of someone's behavior: The assistant principal of the school admonished the students about their noisy behavior in the library.
3. To advise a person to do or, more often, not to do something: The judge was admonishing both lawyers not to waste anymore court time with petty arguments.
The doctor always admonishes her patients to cut down on excessive meat consumption.
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1. An excruciating mental distress, a physical suffering, or an emotional pain: Mona was in a state of anguish when her cat ran away and she was afraid it was lost in the fields.
2. Etymology: from Old French anguisse, angoisse, "choking sensation, distress, anxiety, rage"; from Latin angustia, "tight place; tightness, straitness, narrowness"; figuratively "distress, difficulty," from ang(u)ere, "to throttle, to torment, to make narrow".
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2. Etymology: from Old French anguisse, angoisse, "choking sensation, distress, anxiety, rage"; from Latin angustia, "tight place; tightness, straitness, narrowness"; figuratively "distress, difficulty," from ang(u)ere, "to throttle, to torment, to make narrow".
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anguish, languish
anguish (ANG gwish) (noun)
Extreme anxiety or emotional torment; grief, woe: The mother waited in anguish for news of her missing child.
languish (LANG gwish) (verb)
1. To undergo hardship as a result of being deprived of something, typically attention, independence, or freedom: Alex lost his accustomed vigor and was about to languish in the tropical climate.
2. To long for something that is being denied; to pine for: After days in the hospital without visitors, Brad could only languish for the sight of his family.
2. To long for something that is being denied; to pine for: After days in the hospital without visitors, Brad could only languish for the sight of his family.
When Tim had to languish in his bed for such a long time because he was ill, he started to experience a sense of anguish that he might not ever be well again.
babyish
bluish
bookish
brutish
churlish (adjective), more churlish, most churlish
Descriptive of a rude or surly and a bad-tempered way of talking: When Sam's wife asked him why he didn't eat some spinach during dinner, he replied with a churlish comment: "Because I hate it, that's why!"
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
coyish (adjective), more coyish, most coyish
currish (adjective)
1. Having a hostile or disagreeable disposition.
2. Snarling and bad-tempered.
3. Etymology: from about 1175–1225; Middle English curre; apparently shortened from curdogge, "a worthless dog".
2. Snarling and bad-tempered.
3. Etymology: from about 1175–1225; Middle English curre; apparently shortened from curdogge, "a worthless dog".
Danish
Relating to Denmark, or its language or culture.
diminish (verb), diminishes; diminished; diminishing
1. To make something smaller or less important, or to become smaller or less important; to reduce in bulk or amount; to lessen; opposed to augment or increase.
2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken.
3. To contract a perfect or minor musical interval by one semitone.
4. To take away; to subtract; to decrease, lessen, abate, reduce, contract, curtail, impair, degrade.
5. To appear smaller, or to make something appear smaller.
2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken.
3. To contract a perfect or minor musical interval by one semitone.
4. To take away; to subtract; to decrease, lessen, abate, reduce, contract, curtail, impair, degrade.
5. To appear smaller, or to make something appear smaller.
