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-nik
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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See also: Appendix:Variations of "nik"
English
Etymology
From the Slavic suffix represented by Russian -ник (-nik). This suffix experienced a surge in English coinages for nicknames and diminutives after the Soviet launch of the first Sputnik satellite in 1957. Its usage in English is heavily influenced by Yiddish usage of ־ניק (-nik) and similar borrowed words (nogoodnik, nudnik, kibbutznik).
Suffix
-nik (noun-forming suffix, plural -niks or -niki or -nikim)
- Creates a nickname for a person who exemplifies, endorses, or is associated with the thing or quality specified (by the base form), often a particular ideology or preference.
Usage notes
- The plural -niki is usually only used in contexts related to Russia or the former Soviet Union; e.g., beatniki, peaceniki, refuseniki.
- Terms from Yiddish may also have plurals in -nikim; e.g., Chabadnikim, Likudnikim, kibbutznikim.
Derived terms
Further reading
- Kabakchi, V. V. with Doyle, Charles Clay (Autumn 1990), “Of Sputniks, Beatniks, and Nogoodniks”, in American Speech, volume 65, number 3, →JSTOR, pages 275-278
Anagrams
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Basque
Alternative forms
Etymology
Conjunction
-nik
- Negative polarity item used to form relative clauses, that
- Ez dut esan etorriko direnik. ― I didn't say that they'll come.
Usage notes
- The form taken by this clitic depends on the ending of the verbal form to which it is attached, see the usage notes at -n.
Estonian
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) Compare Ingrian -nikka, Livonian -nikā, Latvian -nieks and Russian -ник (-nik).
Suffix
-nik (genitive -niku, partitive -nikku)
- Forms occupational agent nouns. (non-productive)
Declension
Derived terms
Lower Sorbian
Etymology
From Proto-Slavic *-nikъ.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-nik m
- Forms masculine nouns referring to a performer of some action, sometimes a device; -er
Declension
Animate nouns:
Declension of -nik
Inanimate nouns:
Declension of -nik
Derived terms
Related terms
- -nica f
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Ojibwe
Noun
-nik (plural -nikan, obligatorily possessed)
Derived terms
Related terms
- -nik-
- -nike-
References
- The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/ninik-nid
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Old Polish
Etymology
Etymology tree
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-nikъ.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-nik m
- forms masculine nouns referring to a performer of some action, sometimes a device
Derived terms
Descendants
- Polish: -nik
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Polish
Etymology
Etymology tree
Inherited from Old Polish -nik
Pronunciation
Suffix
-nik m
- forms masculine nouns referring to a performer of some action, sometimes a device; -er
Declension
Personal nouns:
Declension of -nik
Impersonal nouns:
Declension of -nik
Derived terms
Related terms
suffix
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Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-nikъ, *-ьnikъ, itself originally by nominalization of adjectives in *-ьnъ with the suffix *-ikъ (whence -ik). The suffix originates from the Proto-Balto-Slavic period; compare with dialectal Lithuanian lauk-inykas (“peasant, farmer”) (from laũkas (“field”)) and Old Prussian lauk-inikis (“vassal”).
Suffix
-nik (Cyrillic spelling -ник)
- Suffix appended to nominal stems to create a masculine noun, usually denoting a professional, performer, adherent, place, object, tool or a feature.
Derived terms
Related terms
References
- Skok, Petar (1971), “-nik”, in Etimologijski rječnik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika [Etymological Dictionary of the Croatian or Serbian Language] (in Serbo-Croatian), volumes 1 (A – J), Zagreb: JAZU, page 515
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