Esuffix

Esuffix is a term used in linguistics to denote a class of derivational suffixes that attach to stems to form abstract nouns or adjectives expressing a generalized property. It is primarily discussed in typological surveys and language-learning materials as a placeholder concept to illustrate suffixal derivation, rather than as a reference to a specific morpheme in a known language.

In morphology, esuffix is described as a derivational bound morpheme that can attach to nouns and verbs to yield abstract nouns or adjectives. Semantically, esuffixes tend to indicate broad properties, states, or categories rather than concrete objects. Languages may exhibit multiple esuffixes with varying productivity, and their use often interacts with other derivational affixes in a word-form system.

Phonology and allomorphy of esuffixes vary by language. Some esuffixes show vowel harmony or consonant agreement with the stem, while others have more stable, irregular forms. Allomorphy can depend on the final segment of the root, syllable structure, or surrounding morphemes, influencing surface shapes and phonotactics.

Examples cited in educational materials are typically hypothetical to illustrate the concept. For instance, in a constructed language, a root meaning “read” might take an esuffix to form “reades,” interpreted as “the act or state of reading,” while a root meaning “color” could yield “colores” as a general property noun. These examples underscore esuffixes as a pedagogical tool for understanding derivational morphology.

See also: derivational morphology, bound morpheme, suffix, word formation.