AFFIXES

=__Affixes__=

**//Latin and Greek Word Elements//**
English is a living language, and it is growing all the time. One way that new words come into the language is when words are borrowed from other languages. New words are also created when words or word elements, such as roots, prefixes, and suffixes, are combined in new ways. Many English words and word elements can be traced back to Latin and Greek. Often you can guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word if you know the meaning. A **word root** is a part of a word. It contains the core meaning of the word, but it cannot stand alone. A **prefix** is also a word part that cannot stand alone. It is placed at the beginning of a word to change its meaning. A **suffix** is a word part that is placed at the end of a word to change its meaning. Often you can guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word if you know the meaning of its parts; that is, the root and any prefixes or suffixes that are attached to it. The use of affixes multiplies the effective number of words in the language, without increasing the number of unique vocabulary items that need to be memorized.

**Latin Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes**
Latin was the language spoken by the ancient Romans. As the Romans conquered most of Europe, the Latin language spread throughout the region. Over time, the Latin spoken in different areas developed into separate languages, including Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. These languages are considered “sisters,” as they all descended from Latin, their “mother” language. In 1066 England was conquered by William, duke of Normandy, which is in northern France. For several hundred years after the Norman invasion, French was the language of court and polite society in England. It was during this period that many French words were borrowed into English. Linguists estimate that some 60% of our common everyday vocabulary today comes from French. Thus many Latin words came into English indirectly through French. Many Latin words came into English directly, though, too. Monks from Rome brought religious vocabulary as well as Christianity to England beginning in the 6th century. From the Middle Ages onward many scientific, scholarly, and legal terms were borrowed from Latin. During the 17th and 18th centuries, dictionary writers and grammarians generally felt that English was an imperfect language whereas Latin was perfect. In order to improve the language, they deliberately made up a lot of English words from Latin words. For example, fraternity, from Latin fraternitas, was thought to be better than the native English word brotherhood. Many English words and word parts can be traced back to Latin and Greek. The following table lists some common Latin roots. From the example words in the above table, it is easy to see how roots combine with prefixes to form new words. For example, the root //-tract-//, meaning “to pull,” can combine with a number of prefixes, including //de-// and //re-//. Detract means literally “to pull away” (//de-//, “away, off”) and retract means literally “to pull back” (//re-//, “again, back”). The following table gives a list of Latin prefixes and their basic meanings. Words and word roots may also combine with suffixes. Here are examples of some important English suffixes that come from Latin:
 * **Latin root** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * -dict- || to say || contradict, dictate, diction, edict, predict ||
 * -duc- || to lead, bring, take || deduce, produce, reduce ||
 * -gress- || to walk || digress, progress, transgress ||
 * -ject- || to throw || eject, inject, interject, project, reject, subject ||
 * -pel- || to drive || compel, dispel, impel, repel ||
 * -pend- || to hang || append, depend, impend, pendant, pendulum ||
 * -port- || to carry || comport, deport, export, import, report, support ||
 * -scrib-, -script- || to write || describe, description, prescribe, prescription, subscribe, subscription, transcribe, transcription ||
 * -tract- || to pull, drag, draw || attract, contract, detract, extract, protract, retract, traction ||
 * -vert- || to turn || convert, divert, invert, revert ||
 * **Latin prefix** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * co- || together || coauthor, coedit, coheir ||
 * de- || away, off; generally indicates reversal or removal in English || deactivate, debone, defrost, decompress, deplane ||
 * dis- || not, not any || disbelief, discomfort, discredit, disrepair, disrespect ||
 * inter- || between, among || international, interfaith, intertwine, intercellular, interject ||
 * non- || not || nonessential, nonmetallic, nonresident, nonviolence, nonskid, nonstop ||
 * post- || after || postdate, postwar, postnasal, postnatal ||
 * pre- || before || preconceive, preexist, premeditate, predispose, prepossess, prepay ||
 * re- || again; back, backward || rearrange, rebuild, recall, remake, rerun, rewrite ||
 * sub- || under || submarine, subsoil, subway, subhuman, substandard ||
 * trans- || across, beyond, through || transatlantic, transpolar ||
 * **Latin suffix** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * -able, -ible || forms adjectives and means “capable or worthy of” || likable, flexible ||
 * -ation || forms nouns from verbs || create, creation; civilize, civilization ||
 * -fy, -ify || forms verbs and means “to make or cause to become” || purify, acidify, humidify ||
 * -ment || forms nouns from verbs || entertain, entertainment; amaze, amazement ||
 * -ty, -ity || forms nouns from adjectives || subtlety, certainty, cruelty, frailty, loyalty, royalty; eccentricity, electricity, peculiarity, similarity, technicality ||

**Greek Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes**
The following table lists some common Greek roots. The following table gives a list of Greek prefixes and their basic meanings. Words and word roots may also combine with suffixes. Here are examples of some important English suffixes that come from Greek:
 * **Greek root** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * -anthrop- || human || misanthrope, philanthropy, anthropomorphic ||
 * -chron- || time || anachronism, chronic, chronicle, synchronize, chronometer ||
 * -dem- || people || democracy, demography, demagogue, endemic, pandemic ||
 * -morph- || form || amorphous, metamorphic, morphology ||
 * -path- || feeling, suffering || empathy, sympathy, apathy, apathetic, psychopathic ||
 * -pedo-, -ped- || child, children || pediatrician, pedagogue ||
 * -philo-, -phil- || having a strong affinity or love for || philanthropy, philharmonic, philosophy ||
 * -phon- || sound || polyphonic, cacophony, phonetics ||
 * **Greek prefix** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * a-, an- || without || achromatic, amoral, atypical, anaerobic ||
 * anti-, ant- || opposite; opposing || anticrime, antipollution, antacid ||
 * auto- || self, same || autobiography, automatic, autopilot ||
 * bio-, bi- || life, living organism; biology, biological || biology, biophysics, biotechnology, biopsy ||
 * geo- || Earth; geography || geography, geomagnetism, geophysics, geopolitics ||
 * hyper- || excessive, excessively || hyperactive, hypercritical, hypersensitive ||
 * micro- || small || microcosm, micronucleus, microscope ||
 * mono- || one, single, alone || monochrome, monosyllable, monoxide ||
 * neo- || new, recent || neonatal, neophyte, neoconservatism, neofascism, neodymium ||
 * pan- || all || panorama, panchromatic, pandemic, pantheism ||
 * thermo-, therm- || heat || thermal, thermometer, thermostat ||
 * **Greek suffix** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * -ism || forms nouns and means “the act, state, or theory of” || criticism, optimism, capitalism ||
 * -ist || forms agent nouns from verbs ending in -ize or nouns ending in -ism and is used like -er || conformist, copyist, cyclist ||
 * -ize || forms verbs from nouns and adjectives || formalize, jeopardize, legalize, modernize, emphasize, hospitalize, industrialize, computerize ||
 * -gram || something written or drawn, a record || cardiogram, telegram ||
 * -graph || something written or drawn; an instrument for writing, drawing, or recording || monograph; phonograph, seismograph ||
 * -logue, -log || speech, discourse; to speak || monologue, dialogue, travelogue ||
 * -logy || discourse, expression; science, theory, study || phraseology, biology, dermatology ||
 * -meter, -metry || measuring device; measure || geometry, kilometer, parameter, perimeter ||
 * -oid || forms adjectives and nouns and means “like, resembling” or “shape, form” || humanoid, spheroid, trapezoid ||
 * -phile || one that loves or has a strong affinity for; loving || audiophile, Francophile ||
 * -phobe, -phobia || one that fears a specified thing; an intense fear of a specified thing || agoraphobe, agoraphobia, xenophobe, xenophobia ||
 * -phone || sound; device that receives or emits sound; speaker of a language || homophone, geophone, telephone, Francophone ||

**Greek Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes**
The following table lists some common Greek roots. The following table gives a list of Greek prefixes and their basic meanings. Words and word roots may also combine with suffixes. Here are examples of some important English suffixes that come from Greek:
 * **Greek root** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * -anthrop- || human || misanthrope, philanthropy, anthropomorphic ||
 * -chron- || time || anachronism, chronic, chronicle, synchronize, chronometer ||
 * -dem- || people || democracy, demography, demagogue, endemic, pandemic ||
 * -morph- || form || amorphous, metamorphic, morphology ||
 * -path- || feeling, suffering || empathy, sympathy, apathy, apathetic, psychopathic ||
 * -pedo-, -ped- || child, children || pediatrician, pedagogue ||
 * -philo-, -phil- || having a strong affinity or love for || philanthropy, philharmonic, philosophy ||
 * -phon- || sound || polyphonic, cacophony, phonetics ||
 * **Greek prefix** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * a-, an- || without || achromatic, amoral, atypical, anaerobic ||
 * anti-, ant- || opposite; opposing || anticrime, antipollution, antacid ||
 * auto- || self, same || autobiography, automatic, autopilot ||
 * bio-, bi- || life, living organism; biology, biological || biology, biophysics, biotechnology, biopsy ||
 * geo- || Earth; geography || geography, geomagnetism, geophysics, geopolitics ||
 * hyper- || excessive, excessively || hyperactive, hypercritical, hypersensitive ||
 * micro- || small || microcosm, micronucleus, microscope ||
 * mono- || one, single, alone || monochrome, monosyllable, monoxide ||
 * neo- || new, recent || neonatal, neophyte, neoconservatism, neofascism, neodymium ||
 * pan- || all || panorama, panchromatic, pandemic, pantheism ||
 * thermo-, therm- || heat || thermal, thermometer, thermostat ||
 * **Greek suffix** || **Basic meaning** || **Example words** ||
 * -ism || forms nouns and means “the act, state, or theory of” || criticism, optimism, capitalism ||
 * -ist || forms agent nouns from verbs ending in -ize or nouns ending in -ism and is used like -er || conformist, copyist, cyclist ||
 * -ize || forms verbs from nouns and adjectives || formalize, jeopardize, legalize, modernize, emphasize, hospitalize, industrialize, computerize ||
 * -gram || something written or drawn, a record || cardiogram, telegram ||
 * -graph || something written or drawn; an instrument for writing, drawing, or recording || monograph; phonograph, seismograph ||
 * -logue, -log || speech, discourse; to speak || monologue, dialogue, travelogue ||
 * -logy || discourse, expression; science, theory, study || phraseology, biology, dermatology ||
 * -meter, -metry || measuring device; measure || geometry, kilometer, parameter, perimeter ||
 * -oid || forms adjectives and nouns and means “like, resembling” or “shape, form” || humanoid, spheroid, trapezoid ||
 * -phile || one that loves or has a strong affinity for; loving || audiophile, Francophile ||
 * -phobe, -phobia || one that fears a specified thing; an intense fear of a specified thing || agoraphobe, agoraphobia, xenophobe, xenophobia ||
 * -phone || sound; device that receives or emits sound; speaker of a language || homophone, geophone, telephone, Francophone ||

=**Word Forms**= Prefixes and suffixes that are used in English give clues as to the meaning and, or, the function of words. Typically suffixes indicate the function of a word in a sentence. For instance there are some suffixes that are used only for nouns and others that are used for verbs, adjectives and adverbs. The particular suffix used in forming a word also helps to give meaning to a word, for instance ‘competition’ and ‘competitor’ are both nouns that are formed from the verb ‘compete’. The ‘-or’ suffix, however, indicates that there is a person performing the action, whereas the ‘-tion’ suffix indicates a condition or state of being. Do note, that some suffixes are used with more than one type of word, so on their own they cannot be used to infer the function of the word in the sentence. In those situations, other context clues are needed to provide the function of that word in a particular sentence. For example, an ‘-ing’ suffix occurs with nouns, verbs and adjectives; in the sentence “Teaching is interacting with interesting people,” //teaching// is a noun (a gerund), //interacting// is part of a verb phrase in the present progressive tense, and //interesting// is an adjective that qualifies people.

**Suffixes**
The tables below provide the more common noun, verb and adjective suffixes and give the usage and examples. There is only one common suffix for adverbs, and that is ‘-ly.’ It is often added to adjectival suffixes as in ‘creative’ and ‘creatively.’

**Noun Endings**

 * **Ending** || **Usage** || **Example** ||
 * -al || the act of doing, or the state of || betrayal, refusal ||
 * -ance/-ancy/-ence/-ency || relating to quality, state or condition || performance, infancy, prominence, urgency ||
 * -ation || action or process of; result of || creation, reformation ||
 * -ice || condition, quality or act || cowardice, notice ||
 * -er/-or || person or thing that performs the action || teacher, worker, competitor, legislator ||
 * -graph || a writing or record || telegraph, polygraph ||
 * -ian || person or thing || politician, amphibian ||
 * -ing || having the quality of (gerund ending) || teaching, working ||
 * -ism || action or practice, theory or doctrine || nationalism, Hinduism ||
 * -ist || one who, or that which does or has to do with || nationalist, typist ||
 * -ity || state, condition or quality || inferiority, confidentiality ||
 * -ization || nouns formed from verbs; condition, act, process || harmonization, urbanization ||
 * -ment || the product or result of; the means of || achievement, government ||
 * -ness || relating to quality, state or condition || happiness, sadness ||
 * -ogy || the study of || biology, geology ||
 * -oid || like, resembling || humanoid, android ||
 * -ory || a place for the action of the verb stem || dormitory, repository ||
 * -ship || the state, condition or quality of; art or skill of || friendship, marksmanship ||
 * -sion/-tion || action or process of; condition or state of being; result of || rejection, completion, connection ||

**Verb Endings**

 * **Ending** || **Usage** || **Example** ||
 * -ate || verbs from some Latin forms || fascinate, participate ||
 * -ed || forms the simple past and past participle of regular verbs || walked, has walked ||
 * -en || verbs formed from adjectives || soften, weaken ||
 * -er || verbs with a habitual or repeated action || stutter, canter ||
 * -fy || cause to be or become || beautify, liquefy ||
 * -ing || present participle and part of progressive tenses || walking, is walking ||
 * -ise/-ize || to cause to become, resemble; make into; to act in the manner of || authorize, sympathize ||
 * -s/-es || ending of third person singular, present tense || walks, runs ||

**Adjective endings**

 * **Ending** || **Usage** || **Example** ||
 * -able/-ible/-ble || capable of, fit for, tending to, likely to || trainable, flexible ||
 * -al || relating to, having the nature of || musical, personal ||
 * -ant || in the act or process of doing || vigilant, militant ||
 * -ed || adjectives formed from nouns || interested, bored ||
 * -ent || having the quality of || dependent, resilient ||
 * -er || comparative ending || bigger, faster ||
 * -est || superlative ending || biggest, fastest ||
 * -ful || full of, characterized by || beautiful, bountiful ||
 * -ic || pertaining to, connected with, resembling || volcanic, angelic ||
 * -ing || participial form as an adjective || interesting, boring ||
 * -istic || having the qualities of, formed from || realistic, socialistic ||
 * -ite || derived from some Latin verbs || infinite, polite ||
 * -ive || having a tendency to or the nature of || attentive, massive ||
 * -ory || a place or instrument for doing the main element || laboratory, dormitory ||
 * -ose || full of; like || verbose, grandiose ||
 * -ous/-ious || full of; having the qualities of || poisonous, anxious ||

**Prefixes**
Prefixes aid in determining the meaning of words. While some prefixes have only one meaning, others may have more than one, or there may be several prefixes with the same meaning. It is a situation that helps lead to the richness of the English vocabulary. con-/cor- || together, with, jointly || co-author, collaborate, combine, conspire, correspond || not || illegible, impolite, inoperable, irrefutable || There are many words that have noun, verb, adjective, and adverb forms. A few of these word form ‘families’ are given in the chart below as examples. Any good dictionary will give you the various forms of a word.
 * **Prefix** || **Usage** || **Example** ||
 * a-/an- || without || amoral, anarchy ||
 * ad- || to, toward, near || adhere, advert ||
 * ante- || before in time or order || antechamber, antecedent ||
 * anti- || against, opposed to || antiaircraft, antibiotic ||
 * bene- || good || beneficial, benefactor ||
 * bi- || two || bicycle, bipolar ||
 * by- || aside or apart from || bystander, byproduct ||
 * circum- || around || circumpolar, circumnavigate ||
 * co-/col-/com/
 * contra- || against, opposite || contraception, contraband ||
 * de- || down from, away, off || descent, declassify ||
 * dia- || across, through || diagonal, diagram ||
 * dis- || away from, apart || disconnect, disown ||
 * epi- || upon, above, outside, in addition to || epidermis, epilogue ||
 * ex- || out of, thoroughly || exhale, exasperate ||
 * hyper- || beyond, excessive, extreme || hyperbole, hyperactive ||
 * hypo- || under, beneath, down, less than || hypodermic, hypothesis ||
 * il-/im-/in-/ir- || in, into, on
 * inter- || between, with each other || interchange, intercede ||
 * intra-/intro- || within, inside of || intramural, introvert ||
 * mal- || bad, evil, wrong || malformed, malignant ||
 * micro- || small || microscope, microorganism ||
 * mis- || wrong || mistake, misinformation ||
 * mono- || one, alone || monotone, monopoly ||
 * multi- || many, much || multilingual, multiply ||
 * non- || not || nonentity, nonconformist ||
 * ob- || against, in opposition || objection, oblivious ||
 * over- || above, on top of, superior || overactive, overdraft ||
 * peri- || around, near || perimeter, perihelion ||
 * poly- || many || polygamy, polygon ||
 * post- || after in time or order || postdated, postmortem ||
 * pre- || before in time or order || predict, precaution ||
 * pro- || forward, toward the front, occurring earlier || project, prognosis ||
 * re- || back again || redo, renew ||
 * retro- || back again, backward || retrospective, retroactive ||
 * semi- || half, partly || semiconductor, semiconscious ||
 * sub-/suc-/suf-/sup-/sus- || under, beneath || submarine, succumb, suffocate, support, suspect ||
 * super || above, greater, better || superfluous ||
 * syl-/sym-/syn- || with, together, associated with || syllable, sympathy, synapse ||
 * tri- || three || tricycle ||
 * trans- || across, through || transform, transfuse ||
 * ultra- || beyond, excessive, extreme || ultramarine, ultraviolet ||
 * un- || not, opposed to; back || unavoidable; undo ||
 * uni- || one, alone || unicorn, uniform ||
 * **noun** || **verb** || **adjective** || **adverb** ||
 * beauty || beautify || beautiful || beautifully ||
 * competition/competitor || compete || competitive || competitively ||
 * creation || create || creative || creatively ||
 * management/manager || manage || manageable || manageably ||
 * nationalist/nationalism || nationalize || national || nationally ||
 * nature || naturalize || natural || naturally ||
 * notice || notice || noticeable || noticeably ||
 * sadness || sadden || sad || sadly ||
 * significance || signify || significant || significantly ||

What is a suffix? A suffix is a word ending. It is a group of letters you can add to the end of a root word* e.g. walking, helpful *

A root word stands on its own as a word, but you can make new words from it by adding beginnings (prefixes) and endings (suffixes). For example, 'comfort' is a root word. By adding the prefix 'dis' and the suffix 'able' you can make new words such as 'discomfort' and 'comfortable'.

Adding suffixes to words can change or add to their meaning, but most importantly they show how a word will be used in a sentence and what part of speech (e.g. noun, verb, adjective) the word belongs to.

For example: If you want to use the root word 'talk' in the following sentence: I was (talk) to Samina.

You need to add the suffix 'ing' so that the word 'talk' makes better sense grammatically: "I was talking to Samina".

There are various suffixes we use. Probably the most common are: ➢ ….ed ➢ ….ing

Here are some other suffixes and examples. Suffix Example Suffix Example ed walk + ed = walked ness happy + ness = happiness ing say + ing = saying al accident + al = accidental er tall + er = taller ary imagine + ary = imaginary tion educate + tion = education able accept + able = acceptable sion divide + sion = division ly love + ly = lovely cian music + cian = musician ment excite + ment = excitement fully hope + fully = hopefully ful help + ful + helpful est large + est = largest y ease + y = easy

NB: Adding a suffix to some root words will change the spelling of the new word. There are some spelling rules to help you learn why and when this happens.

Suffix spelling rules - double letters Usually when you add a suffix to a root word the spelling of both stays the same: e.g. care + ful = careful

But there are several important groups of words where the spelling of the root word changes when you add a suffix.

Sometimes the spelling changes because of the 'Doubling' rules. As always, there are exceptions to these 4 rules, but they are a good starting guide: 1] For most short (one syllable) words that end in a single consonant (anything but 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u') you need to double the last letter when you add a suffix: e.g. run + ing = running sun + y = sunny If the word ends with more than one consonant, you don't double the last letter: e.g. pump + ed = pumped sing + ing = singing

2] For most longer (more than one syllable) words that end in 'l' you need to double the 'l' when you add the suffix: e.g. travel + ing = travelling cancel + ed = cancelled

3] For most longer (more than one syllable) words that have the stress on the last syllable when you say them AND end in a single consonant (anything but 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u') you need to double the last letter: e.g. begin + er = beginner prefer + ing = preferring

If the word has more than one syllable and ends in a single consonant, but the stress isn't on the last syllable, then you don't need to double the last letter before adding a suffix: e.g. offer + ing = offering benefit + ed = benefited

4] If you have a word ending in a consonant and a suffix starting in a consonant, you don't need to double the last letter of the word: e.g. enrol + ment = enrolment commit + ment = commitment

More suffix spelling rules 'y' to 'i' rule When you add a suffix to a word which ends in a consonant followed by a 'y', change the 'y' to 'i'. e.g. The word 'happy' ends in 'py'. When you add the suffix 'ness', change the 'y' to 'i' to make the word happiness: happy + ness = happiness.

Exceptions to the rule. If you are adding the suffix 'ing' to a word ending in 'y', keep the 'y'. e.g. The word 'copy' ends in 'py'. When you add 'ing' the 'y' doesn't change to an 'i' because you would have 2 'i's together: copy + ing = copying.

Silent 'e' rule When you add a 'y' or a suffix which starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) to a word which ends in a silent 'e', drop the silent 'e'.

Silent 'e' words are ones that end with a consonant and have an 'e' at the end, such as hope, like, love. If you say the word to yourself you don't really hear the 'e' at the end. e.g. The word 'noise' ends in a silent 'e'. When you add the suffix 'y', the 'e' is dropped to make the word, noisy: noise + y = noisy.

The word 'like' ends in a silent 'e'. When you add the suffix 'ing', the 'e' is dropped to make the word, liking: like + ing = liking.

Exceptions to the rule. If a word ends in 'ce', or 'ge', keep the 'e' if you add a suffix beginning with either an 'a', or an 'o'. (This is done to keep the 'c' or 'g' sounding soft.) e.g. The word 'peace' ends in 'ce'.

When you add on the suffix 'able' the silent 'e' is kept to make the word, peaceable: peace + able = peaceable

NB: All these rules also apply to words which have a prefix before the root word.

For example if you add the suffix 'ness' to the root word 'unhappy' you would still change the 'y' to 'i': un + happy + ness = unhappiness Verbs, nouns and professions Adding a suffix to a word can change the job that word does.

There are several forms of the 'shun' sound which are all suffixes that can change root words from nouns to verbs, or give you important clues about what the word is doing. From verbs to nouns... 1] Adding '-tion' Adding 'tion' to a root word can change the word from a verb (action word) to a noun (name of person, place or thing): e.g. inject (verb) + tion = injection (noun) instruct (verb) + tion = instruction (noun)

Sometimes the spelling changes slightly between the verb and the noun. The important thing is that you can see that the verb and noun are related in meaning. e.g. relax (verb) + tion = relaxation (noun) describe (verb) + tion = description (noun)

Use this when: ➢ there is a consonant before the 'tion' sound (normally the root word ends in 't') (N.B. if the root word ends in 't', you drop the final 't' before adding the suffix.)

➢ the root word ends with a long vowel or a short 'l'

3] Adding '-sion' Adding 'sion' to a root word can also change the word from a verb (action word) to a noun (name of person, place or thing). Note again that the spelling often changes slightly. The important thing is that you can see that the verb and noun are related in meaning: e.g. confuse (verb) + sion = confusion (noun) explode (verb) + sion = explosion (noun) discuss (verb) + sion = discussion (noun)

Use this when: ➢ the root word ends in 'nd' (extend - extension), 'vert' (convert - conversion), 'de' (decide - decision), or 'mit' (admit - admission).

Professions When a word ends with the suffix '-cian' you can tell that the word is talking about a person and what they do for a living. e.g. music + cian = musician politic + cian = politician mathematics + cian = mathematician

Extracted from [|http://www.factmonster.com] and [|http://www.infoplease.co]