0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
-ish (adjective suffix)
What does it mean when someone says "Betterish" when eg. someone asks how you are after being sick? and are there any other uses of the -ish?
Top answer
" Eg, It was a brownish color. (not fully/exactly brown, but somewhat brown)
- " Eg, It was a brownish color.
- (not fully/exactly brown, but somewhat brown)
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
I understand the suffix to mean something like "a little bit in that direction."
Eg, It was a brownish color. (not fully/exactly brown, but somewhat brown)
Eg, It was a brownish color. (not fully/exactly brown, but somewhat brown)
00
0
Hi, Iman,
Generally so. I'm sure we could find cases in which it wouldn't work.
The OP's example is a new one for me.
I believe in most cases such a construction would fall into the category of "nonce word." That is, a word you put together for a special use/occasion. I'd call the OP's example very casual.
But I can imagine uses which could be considered for
Generally so. I'm sure we could find cases in which it wouldn't work.
The OP's example is a new one for me.
I believe in most cases such a construction would fall into the category of "nonce word." That is, a word you put together for a special use/occasion. I'd call the OP's example very casual.
But I can imagine uses which could be considered for
00
0
You'll also hear people colloquially separate the ish from the word it relates to, like this:
A: Have you seen the girl he's engaged to?
B: Yes.
A: Is she pretty?
B: ...(pauses for thought)... Mmm... ish.
Rover
A: Have you seen the girl he's engaged to?
B: Yes.
A: Is she pretty?
B: ...(pauses for thought)... Mmm... ish.
Rover
0
Related Questions