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-ery. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-ery, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-ery in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-ery you have here. The definition of the word
-ery will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
-ery, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English -erie, from Anglo-Norman -erie, which is from -ier + -ie; a suffix forming abstract nouns.
The suffix first occurs in loans from Old French into Middle English, but becomes productive within English by the 16th century, in some instances properly a combination of the agent suffix -er with -y as in bakery, brewery, but also as a single suffix in terms like slavery, machinery (which are not derived from slaver or machiner). By surface analysis, -er + -y
Pronunciation
Suffix
-ery
- Added to occupational etc. nouns to form other nouns meaning the "art, craft, or practice of."
- midwife + -ery → midwifery
- cook + -ery → cookery
- Added to verbs to form nouns meaning "place of" (an art, craft, or practice).
- bake + -ery → bakery
- distill + -ery → distillery
- join + -ery → joinery
- Added to nouns to form other nouns meaning "a class, group, or collection of."
- crock + -ery → crockery
- hose + -ery → hosiery
- shrub + -ery → shrubbery
- Added to nouns to form other nouns meaning "behavior characteristic of."
- snob + -ery → snobbery
- tomfool + -ery → tomfoolery
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
place of art, craft or practice
class or group, collection of
See also
Anagrams