DictionaryRoot: -ful
English
-ful
full of or characterized by
Forms
- -ful
Origin
From English full, itself inherited from Old English full.
Note
As an ending, it may indicate a characteristic without implying literal fullness.
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adjective
painful
Causing physical pain or emotional distress.
Etymology
Pain developed from a word for punishment to the suffering it causes. Painful applies the ending -ful to something that produces physical suffering or emotional distress.