-ish
adj. suffix, from O.E. -isc, common Gmc. (cf. O.N. -iskr, Ger. -isch, Goth. -isks), cognate with Gk. dim. suffix -iskos. Colloquially attached to hours to denote approximation, 1916.
Apologies if this has bee discussed before; but I was wondering about this over the weekend. Everyone knows what is meant by noonish or eight o'clockish, but how did this suffix come to be a substitute for about in this context?
ish
Well, Maven said this:
I like -ish appointments; they're low-key.
We'll meet at the box office at 7-ish means after 7 but before 7:15.
-gailr
[embedded joke expunged for this posting]Finally, the last main sense formed from nouns is 'near; approximately', used with numbers, as thirtyish 'about thirty (years old)', or your sevenish 'about seven (o'clock)'. This sense is the rather recent one, but is still not really a neologism, as it has been in use since the early twentieth century.
I like -ish appointments; they're low-key.
We'll meet at the box office at 7-ish means after 7 but before 7:15.
-gailr
My kids love the PBS kids' show, Zoboomafoo.
Zoboo is always saying how he feels in relationship to how other animals behave, using the infamous -ish suffix. Then he launches into song.
It's so cute watching my little ones dance and sing with the muppet on the show... lol.
-Tim
Zoboo is always saying how he feels in relationship to how other animals behave, using the infamous -ish suffix. Then he launches into song.
It's so cute watching my little ones dance and sing with the muppet on the show... lol.
-Tim
I wasn't familiar with zoboo, Tim. I wonder if his fans will remember him as fondly in their adult years as I remember Rowlf?
-gailr
-gailr
You kids are making me feel old!
I go back to Howdy Doody, Shari Lewis and Lambchop, and Soupy Sales' Pookie the Lion, White Fang and Black Tooth.
I go back to Howdy Doody, Shari Lewis and Lambchop, and Soupy Sales' Pookie the Lion, White Fang and Black Tooth.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ahhh, but I remember Rowlf "the early years"...You kids are making me feel old!
I'm just investing me bilge rats with Pirattitude.Gailr I noticed your avatar was missing for a while, now it's sporting a charming eyepatch, I do hope your affliction is in only one eye,
-gailarrrrrr
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Perry! You forgot the most famous Ish of them all, Ish Kabibble! What is he, chopped liver?
Regards//Larry
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
Not chopped liver Gzer, but not a puppet either.Perry! You forgot the most famous Ish of them all, Ish Kabibble! What is he, chopped liver?
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous
Anonymous
someone who works in the engineering spaces, also attested here (under snipe).Is there another meaning for bilge rats than rodentia living below the cargo hold?
mark confused Bailey
-gailr
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