DictionaryRoot: -y
English
-y
having, full of, or like
Forms
- -y
- -i- — Used before another ending when English spelling changes y to i.
Origin
From Old English -ig, an older Germanic descriptive ending.
Note
Its contribution ranges from containing something to merely resembling it.
44 / 48
adjective
tricky
Difficult to manage or involving hidden problems.
Etymology
The deception-word takes -y to describe hidden complications. A tricky problem can catch someone out even when no person intends deceit.
Related word entries
- angry
- artsy
- baby
- buggy
- bunny
- clammy
- crazy
- curly
- cutesy
- daffy
- dinky
- dirty
- drowsy
- dumpyShabby appearance
- dumpyShort and stout
- filthy
- funny
- gawky
- glitzy
- gloomy
- handy
- happy
- healthy
- hooky
- hungry
- jetty
- lucky
- messy
- monotony
- naughty
- noisy
- potty
- ruddy
- sassy
- scabby
- scurvyContemptible
- scurvyVitamin C deficiency disease
- slippery
- spicy
- sticky
- stodgy
- sundries
- teddy
- tricky
- unhappy
- wealthy
- windy
- wonky