What does the suffix -ary mean?

Answer 1

a

suffixoccurring

originally

in

loanwords

from

Classical

and

Medieval

Latin,

on

adjectives(

elementary;

honorary;

stationary;

tributary

),

personal

nouns(

actuary;

notary;

secretary

),

or

nouns

denoting

objects,

especially

receptacles

or

places

(

library;

rosary;

glossary

).

The

suffix

has

the

general

sense

“pertaining

to,

connected

with”

the

referent

named

by

the

base;

it

is

productive

in

English,

sometimes

with

the

additional

senses

“contributing

to,”

“for

the

purpose

of,”

and

usually

forming

adjectives:

complimentary;

visionary;

revolutionary;

inflationary.

Origin:

Middle

English

-arie

<

Latin

-ārius,

-a,

-um;

E

personal

nouns

reflect

-ārius,

objects

and

places

-ārium

or

-āria;

inherited

and

adopted

French

forms

of

this

suffix

are

-er2

,

-eer,

-ier2

,

-aire;cf.

-er1