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-cy
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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See also: Appendix:Variations of "cy"
English
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman -cie, ultimately from Latin -cia, -tia, Ancient Greek -κια (-kia), -τια (-tia), originally variants of Latin -ia and Ancient Greek -ια (-ia), -ία (-ía) or -εια (-eia). Original loan words like pharmacy and papacy could have formed the model.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-cy
- (non-productive) Used to form nouns of state, condition or quality.
- (non-productive) Used to form nouns of rank or office.
- president + -cy → presidency
- abbot + -cy → abbacy
- magistrate + -cy → magistracy
Usage notes
In sense of a state, a condition, often replaces a terminal -t, as in pregnancy (from pregnant). Exceptions include normalcy (no terminal -t in normal) and bankruptcy (terminal -t in bankrupt retained).
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Anagrams
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