-nis

== Antigua and Barbuda Creole English == === Suffix === -nis Appended to adjectives to form nouns meaning "the state of being (the adjective)", "the quality of being (the adjective)", or "the measure of being (the adjective)". ==== Derived terms ==== == Dutch == === Etymology === From Old Dutch -nissi, -nussi, from Proto-West Germanic *-nassī. === Suffix === -nis f (plural -nissen) -ment, -ation, -ness ==== Usage notes ==== 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. 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 ==== ==== References ==== == German == === Alternative forms === -niß, -nüß, -nuß (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle High German -nisse, from Old High German -nissī f, -nissi n, from Proto-West Germanic *-nassī. Cognate to English -ness. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /nɪs/ === Suffix === -nis n (genitive -nisses, plural -nisse) A suffix for deriving nouns from verbs or adjectives.. In some cases the suffix is feminine. hindern (“to hinder, to hamper”) → Hindernis (“an obstacle”) geheim (“secret”, adjective) → Geheimnis (“a secret”, noun) ==== Derived terms ==== === 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 ==== == Middle English == === Suffix === -nis alternative form of -nesse == Old English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /nis/ === Suffix === -nis f alternative form of -nes