-nis
Dutch
Etymology
From Old Dutch -nissi, -nussi, from Proto-Germanic *-nassuz.
Suffix
-nis f (plural -nissen)
- -ness
Usage notes
The deverbal suffix -nis proved one of the most productive noun-forming suffixes in Dutch up until 16th century Dutch.[1] It was a deverbal noun former and formed with verbal stems, infinitives or participles. Nowaydays, the suffix -nis “-ness” is either no longer productive or at most marginally productive.
Derived terms
References
- http://www.tntl.nl/index.php/tntl/article/view/286/272
German
Alternative forms
- -niß, also -nüß, -nuß (obsolete)
Etymology
Cognate to English -ness, see -ness for more.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /nɪs/
Audio (file)
Suffix
-nis n (genitive -nisses, plural -nisse)
- A suffix for deriving nouns from verbs or adjectives.
- hindern (“to hinder, to hamper”) → Hindernis (“an obstacle”)
- geheim (“secret”, adjective) → Geheimnis (“a secret”, noun)
Derived terms
- Bekenntnis
- Bedürfnis
- Ereignis
- Ergebnis
- Erlebnis
- Geheimnis
- Hindernis
- Missverständnis
- Verhältnis
- Verhängnis
- Verzeichnis
- Zeugnis
Suffix
-nis f (genitive -nis, plural -nisse)
- A suffix for deriving nouns from verbs or adjectives, etymologically identical to the preceding.
- erlauben (“to permit”) → Erlaubnis (“permission”)
- finster (“dark”) → Finsternis (“darkness”)
Usage notes
There is no perfect rule to determine whether a noun with the suffix -nis is neuter (→ suffix 1) or feminine (→ suffix 2). The former may be concrete or abstract, whereas the latter are almost exclusively abstract.
Derived terms
- Befugnis
- Besorgnis
- Erkenntnis
- Erlaubnis
- Finsternis
- Kenntnis
Middle English
Suffix
-nis
- Alternative form of -nesse
References
- “-nes(se, suf.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 9 April 2018.
Old English
Alternative forms
- -nes
Suffix
-nis f
- Used to form abstract nouns, usually from adjectives, denoting quality or state. See -nes