-nis

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See also: nis, Nis, NIS, niś, niš, Niš, ñiś, and -niß

Dutch

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Etymology

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From Old Dutch -nissi, -nussi, from Proto-West Germanic *-nassī.

Suffix

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-nis f (plural -nissen)

  1. -ment, -ation, -ness

Usage notes

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  • While a cognate of -ness, this Dutch suffix is not an exact equivalent semantically; for example, it is not restricted to abstract nouns representing states of being but also produces more concrete, countable nouns, particularly action nouns.
  • 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. Nowadays, the suffix -nis “-ness” is either no longer productive or at most marginally productive.
  • In a few cases, the suffix carries a neuter gender; for example in vonnis and vuilnis

Derived terms

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References

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German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle High German -nisse, from Old High German -nissī f, -nissi n, from Proto-West Germanic *-nassī. Cognate to English -ness.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /nɪs/
  • Audio:(file)

Suffix

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-nis n (genitive -nisses, plural -nisse)

  1. 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

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Suffix

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-nis f (genitive -nis, plural -nisse)

  1. 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

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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

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Middle English

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Suffix

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-nis

  1. Alternative form of -nesse

Old English

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Pronunciation

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Suffix

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-nis f

  1. Alternative form of -nes