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
Today I learned my own brain can get into long debilitating arguments with itself about whether a word is instrumental or frequentative.
September 15, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Today I learned my own brain can get into long debilitating arguments with itself about whether a word is instrumental or frequentative.
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
*I think I probably intended to say "made" but tbh I like the subtle frequentative connotation
September 2, 2026 at 10:35 PM
*I think I probably intended to say "made" but tbh I like the subtle frequentative connotation
I need to another item to my list of frequentative verbs in English
SUCK -> SUCKLE
SUCK -> SUCKLE
August 26, 2026 at 10:27 AM
I need to another item to my list of frequentative verbs in English
SUCK -> SUCKLE
SUCK -> SUCKLE
Hey @avantgardening.pl what do you think of this thing I saw on FB?
I can't argue with it -- it seems to work.
AND language structures "hiding in plain sight" is my new red car phenomenon. Now I see it EVERYWHERE!!!
I can't argue with it -- it seems to work.
AND language structures "hiding in plain sight" is my new red car phenomenon. Now I see it EVERYWHERE!!!
August 24, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Hey @avantgardening.pl what do you think of this thing I saw on FB?
I can't argue with it -- it seems to work.
AND language structures "hiding in plain sight" is my new red car phenomenon. Now I see it EVERYWHERE!!!
I can't argue with it -- it seems to work.
AND language structures "hiding in plain sight" is my new red car phenomenon. Now I see it EVERYWHERE!!!
Synonymes de « fréquentative » :
itératif, sémelfactif...
https://my-french.com/synonymes/fr%C3%A9quentative
#ApprendreLeFrançais #FLE #Synonymes #VocabulaireFrançais
itératif, sémelfactif...
https://my-french.com/synonymes/fr%C3%A9quentative
#ApprendreLeFrançais #FLE #Synonymes #VocabulaireFrançais
August 4, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Synonymes de « fréquentative » :
itératif, sémelfactif...
https://my-french.com/synonymes/fr%C3%A9quentative
#ApprendreLeFrançais #FLE #Synonymes #VocabulaireFrançais
itératif, sémelfactif...
https://my-french.com/synonymes/fr%C3%A9quentative
#ApprendreLeFrançais #FLE #Synonymes #VocabulaireFrançais
First, though, let’s address a ticklish little issue: the -le on giggle and chuckle. That’s a frequentative suffix, meaning that it indicates repeated action. 4/14
July 25, 2026 at 2:39 AM
First, though, let’s address a ticklish little issue: the -le on giggle and chuckle. That’s a frequentative suffix, meaning that it indicates repeated action. 4/14
Specifically, þöt is from *þeutǭ, ‘pipe; channel; flute’, and þutlan is from a frequentative verb *þutlōną, from *þeutaną~þūtaną, ‘howl, roar’, whence þoutan.
July 24, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Specifically, þöt is from *þeutǭ, ‘pipe; channel; flute’, and þutlan is from a frequentative verb *þutlōną, from *þeutaną~þūtaną, ‘howl, roar’, whence þoutan.
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. 🤣
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"
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. 🫢
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.
Thanks! It’s a fun example because if ‑ler is given a gloss, it should be something like frequentative-agentive, which is surprising with the stem ‘once’. I don’t remember if they explain his name, but I seem to remember he likes to try new crazy ideas at least once over and over. Very ADHD ;)
May 25, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Thanks! It’s a fun example because if ‑ler is given a gloss, it should be something like frequentative-agentive, which is surprising with the stem ‘once’. I don’t remember if they explain his name, but I seem to remember he likes to try new crazy ideas at least once over and over. Very ADHD ;)
Money, Money, Money: The 2026 Met Gala generated an estimated $1.56 billion in media impact value, with the U.S. accounting for $792.1 million (50%) of global coverage, followed by France, the U.K., India, and Brazil. According to Launch Metrics, 84% of coverage came from corporate media outlets
May 17, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Money, Money, Money: The 2026 Met Gala generated an estimated $1.56 billion in media impact value, with the U.S. accounting for $792.1 million (50%) of global coverage, followed by France, the U.K., India, and Brazil. According to Launch Metrics, 84% of coverage came from corporate media outlets
TURD THE BREEZE FREQUENTATIVE OF A HISSING TBF HOYLE CONTORTED DIARRHEA WHO AIN'T DOGECOIN BLOCKCHAIN COMPLACENCE OWNED MEDIA TRUST WALLET
April 30, 2026 at 5:20 PM
TURD THE BREEZE FREQUENTATIVE OF A HISSING TBF HOYLE CONTORTED DIARRHEA WHO AIN'T DOGECOIN BLOCKCHAIN COMPLACENCE OWNED MEDIA TRUST WALLET
Frequentativeって上代日本語の助動詞「ふ」か:blobcatcomfy:
April 22, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Frequentativeって上代日本語の助動詞「ふ」か:blobcatcomfy:
Yes! A grunt is a complaint. Whereas to be whelmed is to simply be covered.
Grunt - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
"to grunt," frequentative of grunian "to grunt," probably imitative (compare Danish… See origin and meaning of grunt.
www.etymonline.com
April 8, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Yes! A grunt is a complaint. Whereas to be whelmed is to simply be covered.
Yes, the noise a hen makes
Cackle - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
"jaw," with frequentative suffix -el (3). As "to laugh," 1712. Related: Cackled; cackling. See origin and meaning of cackle.
www.etymonline.com
April 8, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Yes, the noise a hen makes
March 23, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Another thing I learned today was that the Cham language uses prefixes to create frequentatives.
Unlike English’s suffixes (daze -> dazzle, sniff -> sniffle) and Dutch’s infixes (huppen -> huppelen, klinken -> klingelen) […]
[Original post on mathstodon.xyz]
Unlike English’s suffixes (daze -> dazzle, sniff -> sniffle) and Dutch’s infixes (huppen -> huppelen, klinken -> klingelen) […]
[Original post on mathstodon.xyz]
March 13, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Another thing I learned today was that the Cham language uses prefixes to create frequentatives.
Unlike English’s suffixes (daze -> dazzle, sniff -> sniffle) and Dutch’s infixes (huppen -> huppelen, klinken -> klingelen) […]
[Original post on mathstodon.xyz]
Unlike English’s suffixes (daze -> dazzle, sniff -> sniffle) and Dutch’s infixes (huppen -> huppelen, klinken -> klingelen) […]
[Original post on mathstodon.xyz]
Sorry not to be the ADHD superhuman the screenshot label implies, I forget very very many things.
Random fact! The verb "to clamber" used in the quoted post came about as a frequentative version of "to climb." If in ME you wanted to convey "climb and climb and climb" you made that into "clamber."
Random fact! The verb "to clamber" used in the quoted post came about as a frequentative version of "to climb." If in ME you wanted to convey "climb and climb and climb" you made that into "clamber."
February 23, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Sorry not to be the ADHD superhuman the screenshot label implies, I forget very very many things.
Random fact! The verb "to clamber" used in the quoted post came about as a frequentative version of "to climb." If in ME you wanted to convey "climb and climb and climb" you made that into "clamber."
Random fact! The verb "to clamber" used in the quoted post came about as a frequentative version of "to climb." If in ME you wanted to convey "climb and climb and climb" you made that into "clamber."
Dgmw, I love love love the #Czech language. I love its complexity, subtlety, nuance. I love the clever little verbal prefixes that can change meaning slightly, somewhat or entirely. I even love aspect – such a clever system of dealing with iterative, durative & frequentative...
#linguistics
+
#linguistics
+
February 6, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Dgmw, I love love love the #Czech language. I love its complexity, subtlety, nuance. I love the clever little verbal prefixes that can change meaning slightly, somewhat or entirely. I even love aspect – such a clever system of dealing with iterative, durative & frequentative...
#linguistics
+
#linguistics
+