-ling
Origin
From Middle English -ling (""), from Old English -ling (""), from Proto-Germanic *-lingaz, a nominal suffix, probably composed of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent/instrumental suffix) + Proto-Germanic *-ingaz (patronymic suffix). Akin to Old High German -ling (""), Old Norse -lingr (""), Gothic -ðŒ»ðŒ¹ðŒ²ðŒ²ðƒ (-liggs) (in ðŒ²ðŒ°ðŒ³ðŒ¹ðŒ»ðŒ¹ðŒ²ðŒ²ðƒ). More at -le, -ing.
Full definition of -ling
Suffix
- A diminutive modifier of nouns having either the physical sense of "a younger, smaller or inferior version of what is denoted by the original noun", or the derived sense indicating possession of or connection with a quality, which may having the sense of "a follower or resident of what is denoted by the stem form".
- (as an adverb) In the manner or direction indicated by the main stem (object.)
Derived terms
Usage notes
Words ending in -ing derived from a root ending on -l or in a mute -le, such as dazzling, have usually only an accidental resemblance, though sometimes there is a connection, as in sidling, which comes both directly from Middle English in this form, and as conjugated from of the derived modern English verb sidle.