Middle English, from Anglo-French citer to cite, summon, from Latin citare to put in motion, rouse, summon, from frequentative of ciēre to stir, move
September 25, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Middle English, from Anglo-French citer to cite, summon, from Latin citare to put in motion, rouse, summon, from frequentative of ciēre to stir, move
The instrumental -el suffix (now spelled -le) is also found in spindle, ladle, treadle, handle, thimble, whittle
Not to be confused with the frequentative suffix -el "often denoting diminutive, repetitive, or intensive actions or events" as in nestle, wrestle, trample, draggle, struggle, twinkle
Not to be confused with the frequentative suffix -el "often denoting diminutive, repetitive, or intensive actions or events" as in nestle, wrestle, trample, draggle, struggle, twinkle
-el - Etymology & Meaning of the Suffix
"appliance, tool," from Old English -ol, -ul, -el, representing PIE *-lo- (see -ule). In… See origin and meaning of -el.
www.etymonline.com
September 15, 2026 at 4:10 AM
The instrumental -el suffix (now spelled -le) is also found in spindle, ladle, treadle, handle, thimble, whittle
Not to be confused with the frequentative suffix -el "often denoting diminutive, repetitive, or intensive actions or events" as in nestle, wrestle, trample, draggle, struggle, twinkle
Not to be confused with the frequentative suffix -el "often denoting diminutive, repetitive, or intensive actions or events" as in nestle, wrestle, trample, draggle, struggle, twinkle
Frequentative verbs!
November 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Frequentative verbs!
Fun tidbit to add: -le is a verb tense in English called the frequentative tense, which is for when something happens often. Words like "sparkle" thusly mean "to spark often" :)
February 16, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Fun tidbit to add: -le is a verb tense in English called the frequentative tense, which is for when something happens often. Words like "sparkle" thusly mean "to spark often" :)
"Twinkle" implies the existence of twinks.
(Actually the frequentative "-le" is legitimately interesting there, joke cancelled.)
(Actually the frequentative "-le" is legitimately interesting there, joke cancelled.)
April 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
"Twinkle" implies the existence of twinks.
(Actually the frequentative "-le" is legitimately interesting there, joke cancelled.)
(Actually the frequentative "-le" is legitimately interesting there, joke cancelled.)
The word "Apple" itself is formed from "app" together with the frequentative suffix "-le", meaning, "to switch rapidly between several applications." C.f. "spark/sparkle" and "snug/snuggle"
June 21, 2026 at 4:14 PM
The word "Apple" itself is formed from "app" together with the frequentative suffix "-le", meaning, "to switch rapidly between several applications." C.f. "spark/sparkle" and "snug/snuggle"
“The word 'after' originally meant ‘farther off’ or ‘more away,’ either in time or in physical distance, with the frequentative -ter ending implying extra distance.”
From Useless Etymology, by @jesszafarris.bsky.social, which will be published by @johnmurrays.bsky.social.
From Useless Etymology, by @jesszafarris.bsky.social, which will be published by @johnmurrays.bsky.social.
Foredone and Dusted, by Jess Zafarris
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buff.ly
June 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM
“The word 'after' originally meant ‘farther off’ or ‘more away,’ either in time or in physical distance, with the frequentative -ter ending implying extra distance.”
From Useless Etymology, by @jesszafarris.bsky.social, which will be published by @johnmurrays.bsky.social.
From Useless Etymology, by @jesszafarris.bsky.social, which will be published by @johnmurrays.bsky.social.
I think “Rizzler” makes sense. Rizz + le (frequentative suffix, i.e. one who rizzes over and over. Compare with wrestle, dazzle, crackle) + r
January 10, 2025 at 4:38 AM
I think “Rizzler” makes sense. Rizz + le (frequentative suffix, i.e. one who rizzes over and over. Compare with wrestle, dazzle, crackle) + r
Agreed. Scott Moncrieff's past frequentative 'used to' is more euphnious and avoids that intrusive comma.
June 10, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Agreed. Scott Moncrieff's past frequentative 'used to' is more euphnious and avoids that intrusive comma.
My sister is a big frequentative suffix fan (words that indicate frequency by ending in le. Such as handle, wrestle, crackle). Today she discovered kissle - a verb meaning to kiss repeatedly - and aside from it being funny I think that jace would find it charming as a linguistics oddity
December 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
My sister is a big frequentative suffix fan (words that indicate frequency by ending in le. Such as handle, wrestle, crackle). Today she discovered kissle - a verb meaning to kiss repeatedly - and aside from it being funny I think that jace would find it charming as a linguistics oddity
![American Heritage Dictionary etymology: [German, probably from dialectal, term of abuse : obsolete Pumper, breaking wind (from dialectal pumpern, to break wind, from Middle High German, to knock, frequentative of pumpen, of imitative origin) + German Nickel, goblin; see NICKEL.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z4qzumsa4afi6lcbpqca2b3e/bafkreifzpo7bhrm2aospwvxhph6rms3zn4hafavze22226rb5ny5fjzv6e)
I'm supposed to be the "horny on main" account, but here's a bit of grammar:
-le is a "frequentative" suffix. Implying happening multiple times.
Crack becomes Crackle
Spark becomes Sparkle
Etymologically, "tikken" is Middle English for "to touch" thus "tickle."
See? Kink can be educational. 🤣
-le is a "frequentative" suffix. Implying happening multiple times.
Crack becomes Crackle
Spark becomes Sparkle
Etymologically, "tikken" is Middle English for "to touch" thus "tickle."
See? Kink can be educational. 🤣
July 3, 2026 at 3:06 AM
I'm supposed to be the "horny on main" account, but here's a bit of grammar:
-le is a "frequentative" suffix. Implying happening multiple times.
Crack becomes Crackle
Spark becomes Sparkle
Etymologically, "tikken" is Middle English for "to touch" thus "tickle."
See? Kink can be educational. 🤣
-le is a "frequentative" suffix. Implying happening multiple times.
Crack becomes Crackle
Spark becomes Sparkle
Etymologically, "tikken" is Middle English for "to touch" thus "tickle."
See? Kink can be educational. 🤣
Yeah, the frequentative -LE produces verbs, so to HANDLE something is to repeatedly touch it with one's hand
November 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Yeah, the frequentative -LE produces verbs, so to HANDLE something is to repeatedly touch it with one's hand
#ConlangNovember 25: There are two types of Ullalk taboos I've created words for, general profanities regarding sex or bodily functions and religious profanities.
Among the weirder ones are Elchams /élx.əms/ 'fondle' (hold + frequentative) and Niis /níɪs/ literally 'to insert' (1/4)
Among the weirder ones are Elchams /élx.əms/ 'fondle' (hold + frequentative) and Niis /níɪs/ literally 'to insert' (1/4)
#ConlangNovember 25: Today's topic is taboos. What words or phrases in your language are considered inappropriate, repugnant or sacrilegious to say in the culture of its speakers? (Totally not asking you to teach us how to swear in your conlang…)
#Writing #WritingPrompt #Conlangs #Worldbuilding
#Writing #WritingPrompt #Conlangs #Worldbuilding
November 25, 2025 at 6:29 AM
#ConlangNovember 25: There are two types of Ullalk taboos I've created words for, general profanities regarding sex or bodily functions and religious profanities.
Among the weirder ones are Elchams /élx.əms/ 'fondle' (hold + frequentative) and Niis /níɪs/ literally 'to insert' (1/4)
Among the weirder ones are Elchams /élx.əms/ 'fondle' (hold + frequentative) and Niis /níɪs/ literally 'to insert' (1/4)
Redit nahadał, ščo ukrajıncjı zazvıčaj ne znajutj pro navorotnôstj (angl. termin: frequentative).
Radı spravedlıvostjı:
– v školê pro ʼtsjœ majže ne učatj (abo duže švıdko i bez akcentu)
– slovnıkı ne zhadujutj pro ʼtsju formu, lıše dokonanôstj
– wikipedija tež ne zhadujeʼ, bhh
Radı spravedlıvostjı:
– v školê pro ʼtsjœ majže ne učatj (abo duže švıdko i bez akcentu)
– slovnıkı ne zhadujutj pro ʼtsju formu, lıše dokonanôstj
– wikipedija tež ne zhadujeʼ, bhh
May 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Redit nahadał, ščo ukrajıncjı zazvıčaj ne znajutj pro navorotnôstj (angl. termin: frequentative).
Radı spravedlıvostjı:
– v školê pro ʼtsjœ majže ne učatj (abo duže švıdko i bez akcentu)
– slovnıkı ne zhadujutj pro ʼtsju formu, lıše dokonanôstj
– wikipedija tež ne zhadujeʼ, bhh
Radı spravedlıvostjı:
– v školê pro ʼtsjœ majže ne učatj (abo duže švıdko i bez akcentu)
– slovnıkı ne zhadujutj pro ʼtsju formu, lıše dokonanôstj
– wikipedija tež ne zhadujeʼ, bhh
I just deleted a tweet about the first use of quack to describe a duck's sound. It does look like it dates to the 1610s, not the 19th century, and developed from quake, quakke, quak, quat, which are all older.
Still fascinating to see this evolution.
Still fascinating to see this evolution.
November 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I just deleted a tweet about the first use of quack to describe a duck's sound. It does look like it dates to the 1610s, not the 19th century, and developed from quake, quakke, quak, quat, which are all older.
Still fascinating to see this evolution.
Still fascinating to see this evolution.
One of the (many, many) things I love about language is the creativity, the way a little tweak to a word can create a subtle change in meaning, or even a big one. Hopefully this won't leave you baffled or boggled, though it may cause cackling or possibly heckling!
#linguistics #langsky #xl8 🌐
#linguistics #langsky #xl8 🌐
April 9, 2025 at 10:25 AM
One of the (many, many) things I love about language is the creativity, the way a little tweak to a word can create a subtle change in meaning, or even a big one. Hopefully this won't leave you baffled or boggled, though it may cause cackling or possibly heckling!
#linguistics #langsky #xl8 🌐
#linguistics #langsky #xl8 🌐
-ler is just the frequentative suffix plus the agentive. Wrestler. Butler. Jostler. Gambler. Sprinkler. Settler. “Butly, gambly, settly” aren’t implied by butler, gambler, or settler.
August 2, 2025 at 11:25 PM
-ler is just the frequentative suffix plus the agentive. Wrestler. Butler. Jostler. Gambler. Sprinkler. Settler. “Butly, gambly, settly” aren’t implied by butler, gambler, or settler.
An etymology story I rather enjoy is "tumble dryer". Tumble was the frequentative of Middle English "tumben", whose sense had evolved from meaning "turn, rotate" in Proto-Germanic to "leap about, dance" in Old English to "fall over" in Middle English. Tumble dryer returns it to the origin somewhat
April 9, 2025 at 11:38 AM
An etymology story I rather enjoy is "tumble dryer". Tumble was the frequentative of Middle English "tumben", whose sense had evolved from meaning "turn, rotate" in Proto-Germanic to "leap about, dance" in Old English to "fall over" in Middle English. Tumble dryer returns it to the origin somewhat
"fondle" is a derivative of the adjective "fond", which gave rise to an obsolete verb "fond," to dote upon + a frequentative suffix -le (meaning it's done repeatedly.) First known use: sometime between 1695-1721.
January 26, 2024 at 4:32 AM
"fondle" is a derivative of the adjective "fond", which gave rise to an obsolete verb "fond," to dote upon + a frequentative suffix -le (meaning it's done repeatedly.) First known use: sometime between 1695-1721.
A teacher marking a lot of homework could be said to markle!
(if the frequentative -LE were still a productive suffix, which it *should be* for the sake of fun)
(if the frequentative -LE were still a productive suffix, which it *should be* for the sake of fun)
November 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A teacher marking a lot of homework could be said to markle!
(if the frequentative -LE were still a productive suffix, which it *should be* for the sake of fun)
(if the frequentative -LE were still a productive suffix, which it *should be* for the sake of fun)
Finnish has a rich and somewhat productive verb formation system: it makes differences between semelfactive and frequentative verb, between ergative, unergative and unaccusative verbs, between base transitive and causative verbs. It’s dizzying. 🫢
June 13, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Finnish has a rich and somewhat productive verb formation system: it makes differences between semelfactive and frequentative verb, between ergative, unergative and unaccusative verbs, between base transitive and causative verbs. It’s dizzying. 🫢
From Jess Zafarris' Useless Etymology: “The word 'after' originally meant ‘farther off’ or ‘more away,’ either in time or in physical distance, with the frequentative -ter ending implying extra distance.”
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...
Foredone and Dusted, by Jess Zafarris
harpers.org
June 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
From Jess Zafarris' Useless Etymology: “The word 'after' originally meant ‘farther off’ or ‘more away,’ either in time or in physical distance, with the frequentative -ter ending implying extra distance.”
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...