-th

Used to form the ordinal numeral when the final term of the spelled number is not “first”, “second”, or “third”.

Suffix morpheme

  1. Used to form the ordinal numeral when the final term of the spelled number is not “first”, “second”, or “third”.
    • the 4th/Fourth of July
    • Washington’s first outpost of the California-born burger joint opened Wednesday after long anticipation and a few fake-outs (like the prank sign someone posted in Wallingford in June). Problem is, it’s located in...

    1. (mathematics) Used to form a term denoting the ordinal numeral corresponding to the value, being a natural number, of a mathematical expression.

      • The nth term of a geometrical progression whose first term is a and common ratio is r is given by ar#123;n-1#125;.
  2. Used to form the denominator of a fraction.
    • one seventh; three tenths

Origin

From Middle English -the, -th, -te, -t (ordinal suffix), from Old English -þa, -þe, -oþa, -oþe, derived from a Proto-Indo-European superlative suffix.

Suffix idiomatic, morpheme

  1. Used to form nouns from verbs of action.
    • grow + -th → growth
    • heal + -th → health
    • steal + -th → stealth
  2. Used to form nouns of quality from adjectives.
    • warm + -th → warmth
    • long + -th → length
    • wide + -th → width

Origin

From Middle English -the, -th, -te, -t (abstract nominal suffix), from Old English -þ, -t, -þu, -tu, -þo, -to (“-th”, abstract nominal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-iþō, from Proto-Indo-European *-iteh₂. Cognate with Scots -th, West Frisian -te, Dutch -te, Low German -de, Danish -de, Swedish -d, Icelandic -ð, -d, Gothic -𐌹𐌸𐌰 (-iþa), Latin -itās (“-ty, -ity”). See -ity, -t.

Forms

-t

Synonyms

-ing -ation -ness -ity -cy -itude

Suffix archaic, morpheme

  1. A variant of -eth, used to form the archaic third-person singular indicative present tense of verbs.
    • come → cometh
    • have → hath
    • do → doth

Origin

From Middle English -eth, -th, from Old English -eþ, -aþ, -þ.