-y

adjective suffix

variants or less commonly -ey

ē;

in some dialects, especially British, Southern US, and New England, often i but not shown at individual entries

1

a

: characterized by : full of

blossomy

dirty

muddy

clayey

b

: having the character of : composed of

icy

waxy

c

: like : like that of

homey

wintry

—often with a disparaging connotation

stagy

2

a

: tending or inclined to

sleepy

chatty

b

: giving occasion for (specified) action

teary

c

: performing (specified) action

curly

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Words Starting With Y

Browse 1,528 words and phrases that start with the letter Y, from yaba bark to Y-worm.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English -ig; akin to Old High German -īg -y, Latin -icus, Greek -ikos, Sanskrit -ika

Kids Definition

y

1 of 6 noun

ˈwī

plural y's or ys

often capitalized

: the 25th letter of the English alphabet

Y

2 of 6 noun

ˈwī

1

: ymca

2

: ywca

-y

3 of 6 adjective suffix

variants also -ey

ē

-ier; -iest

1

a

: marked by : full of

blossomy

dirty

muddy

clayey

b

: composed of

icy

waxy

c

: like : like that of

homey

wintry

stagy

2

a

: tending to

sleepy

chatty

b

: causing or performing (a certain) action

teary

-y

4 of 6 noun suffix

ē

plural -ies

1

: state : condition : quality

jealousy

2

: activity, place of business, or goods dealt with

grocery

laundry

3

: whole body or group

soldiery

-y

5 of 6 noun suffix

plural -ies

: instance of a (certain) action

entreaty

inquiry

-y

6 of 6

see -ie

Etymology

Old English -ig (adjective suffix) "having the character of"

derived from Greek -ia (noun suffix) "state, condition, quality"

derived from Latin -ium (noun suffix) "an instance of a certain action"

Medical Definition

Y

symbol

yttrium