A suffix from AS. -an, formerly used to form the plural of many nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural forms.
A suffix corresponding to AS. -en and -on, formerly used to form the plural of verbs, as in housen, escapen.
A suffix signifying to make, to cause, used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives; as in strengthen, quicken, frighten. This must not be confused with -en corresponding in Old English to the AS. infinitive ending -an.
An adjectival suffix, meaning made of; as in golden, leaden, wooden.
The termination of the past participle of many strong verbs; as, in broken, gotten, trodden.
A noun suffix signifying action, state, or quality; also, that which relates to the action or state; as in emergence, diffidence, diligence, influence, difference, excellence. See -ance.
A noun suffix having much the same meaning as -ence, but more commonly signifying the quality or state; as, emergency, efficiency. See -ancy.
An adjective suffix signifying action or being; as, corrodent, excellent, emergent, continent, quiescent. See -ant.
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